Profession ship assistant engineer

Ship assistant engineers assist the ship chief engineer and the ship duty engineer in the operations of the ship's hull. They support the operation of the main engines, steering mechanism, electrical generation and other major subsystems. They communicate with maritime engineers about the performance of technical operations. They also ensure appropriate safety and regulatory standards compliance and are able to take on higher level positions if needed.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional
• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Operation of different engines

  Know the characteristics, maintenance requirements and operating procedures of various kinds of engines such as gas, diesel, electrical, and engines with steam propulsion plants.

• Regulation on the discharge of raw materials into the sea

  Know environmental regulations for the discharge of raw materials into the sea; ensure the use of chemical disinfection and dechlorination to produce a clean and safe effluent suitable for discharging at sea.

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

  The internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.

• Principles of mechanical engineering

  Understand principles of mechanical engineering, physics, and materials science.

• Engine components

  Know the different engine components, and their operation and maintenance. Understand when repairs and replacement should be undertaken.

• Electrical systems used in transportation

  Understand the functioning of electrical systems, their specifications, and application in operations and systems for the transportation of freight and people.

Skills

• Operate vessel engine room

  Operate and maintain the engine room of vessels. Operate the main engine room where the engine and propulsion machinery are located.

• Use maritime English

  Communicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.

• Manage ship electrical systems

  Operate and maintain the electrical components of ships and the electrical distribution system. Know the various load circuits in case of system malfunction. Repair electrical systems in the event of damage or malfunctioning.

• Help prepare lifeboats

  Assist sailors in preparing lifeboats for the journey and provide engineering knowledge for the maintenance and repair of lifeboats.

• Provide support in vessel machinery systems

  Provide support based on knowledge of maritime operations, vessel assurance, and machinery systems.

• Operate sewage treatment plants on ships

  Operate sewage treatment plants in ships, oversee plant maintenance, understand the mechanical functioning of the machine and comply with regulatory mandates of materials discharge to the sea.

• Operate diesel propulsion plants

  Operate diesel and gas turbine propulsion plants including related machinery, such as auxiliary boilers, auxiliary engines, incinerators, air compressors, fuel and fuel oil purifiers.

• Manage vessel engines and systems

  Manage main engines (steam, gas or diesel), refrigeration systems, and any other equipment in the vessel's engine system.

• Perform routine maintenance of ship engines

  Perform routine maintenance tasks on all ship engine systems; monitor engines to ensure they function within standard operating parameters.

• Repair vessel mechanical systems

  Repair mechanical systems of vessels while on-board. Ensure that vessel malfunctions are repaired without affecting the voyage in progress.

• Unmoor vessels

  Follow standard procedures to unmoor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.

• Perform routine lube oil tests

  Conduct routine tests of lubrication oils in engineering systems and water separation systems.

• Maintain vessel engine room

  Maintain the engines and engine room equipment of a vessel. Conduct pre-checks prior to departure and ongoing examinations during the voyage.

• Maintain vessel inventory

  Keep an up-to-date inventory for a vessel, including information on spare components, oil and fuel. Determine the amount of fuel that will be needed for a voyage; ensure that sufficient amounts of fuel are on board at all times.

• Manage on-board water systems

  Operate and maintain on-board water-cooled engineering systems.

• Use different types of fire extinguishers

  Understand and apply various methods of firefighting and various types and classes of fire extinguishing equipment.

• Moor vessels

  Follow standard procedures to moor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.

• Perform bunkering

  Perform bunkering, the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use. Ensure sufficient amounts of fuel for the duration of the journeys.

• Operate fire extinguishers

  Understand the operation of fire extinguishing equipment and fire extinguishing techniques.

• Prepare engine room for operation

  Prepare and start main engine and auxiliary engines; prepare machinery in engine room prior to departure; know and follow starting procedures according to checklist.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB