Ship Engineers
Supervising engineering watches and plant operation during departures, anchoring, and underway replenishment transfers directly to shipboard engineering operations.
How to prepare: Request an official sea-service transcript and assemble vessel particulars and assigned duties for National Maritime Center evaluation against an engine-officer endorsement checklist; a DD-214 alone is not acceptable sea-service evidence. Entry depends on Coast Guard evaluation of sea time and applicable MMC endorsement, TWIC, training, examination, citizenship, medical and drug-testing requirements, with STCW required for open-ocean service; military-service eligibility for Chief Engineer unlimited requires service in the capacity of engineer officer.
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.