Ship Engineers
Supervising engineering watches as designated Plant Control Officer during departures, anchoring, and underway replenishment transfers directly to shipboard propulsion-operation oversight.
How to prepare: Assemble an official sea-service transcript or assignment history, with vessel tonnage, propulsion power, routes, time underway, and assigned duties, for National Maritime Center evaluation against an engine endorsement checklist; a DD-214 alone is not acceptable sea-service evidence. Officer entry requires the appropriate Merchant Mariner Credential endorsement and Coast Guard verification of experience, age, citizenship, physical health, character, approved training, professional competence, and drug testing, with TWIC generally required and verified STCW training required for open-ocean service.
What the civilian work involves
- Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
- Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
- Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.