Marine Engineering Inside-Out

A Brief Intro to Marine Engineering......

Three quarters of the earth’s surface is surrounded by water and for that reason itself Marine engineering is a very exciting and challenging field for those who are passionate about sea and are fond of working with tools. Even though waterways are comparatively used less for traveling, above 80% of the goods transportation happens through sea. For international export and import of freights, countries mainly depend on ships and other water vessels. Marine Engineering is the most basic profession as far as ships and navigation is concerned.

Marine engineering is a branch of Engineering that deals with nautical architecture and science. The term 'Marine Engineering' is meant for research conducted in oceans and coastal or inland waters connected to the sea. Marine Engineering courses deal with construction and maintenance of ships and other sailing vessels. There are three main professions in this field of engineering namely Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering and Ocean Engineering.

All are interrelated and sometimes may be confusing.
Naval Architects are those who are involved with basic ship design, starting with hull forms and overall arrangements, power requirements, structure and stability. Ocean Engineers study the ocean environment to determine its effects on ships and other marine vehicles and structures.

They may design and operate stationary ocean platforms, or manned or remote-operated sub-surface vehicles used for deep sea exploration. Marine Engineers have the complete responsibility of the ship's technical management. They are responsible for selecting the ships' machinery, which may include diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines; and for the design of mechanical, electrical, fluid and control systems throughout the vessel. They are the members of a ship's crew who are in charge for managing a team of marine technicians and craftspeople.

The construction, operations and maintenance of the engine room are the main obligation of a Marine engineer. That means the Marine engineer deals with the technical area of the ship. In fact, they are the overall in-charge of the engine and its crew, and ensure the safety and standards of the marine body. The role of Marine Engineers has widened and smoothened with modern development and electronic navigation.
A four year BE in Marine Engineering is the basic educational qualification needed to become a Marine engineer.

This is a career that offers vast job opportunities including off-shore jobs and the most attractive part is its huge remuneration and NRI status. Many Indian and foreign institutes offer courses in Marine Engineering. Immense job opportunities are waiting for Marine engineers and they have nearly 100% placement rates. The demand for Marine Engineers in public and private shipping companies has risen sharply, with the increase in international global sea traffic.Course Duration:

4 years BE/ B.Tech
Will The Course Suit Me?

A marine engineer should be:

• Responsible
• Practical and adaptable
• Accurate
• Quick and efficient
• Calm

"You need to be able to operate under pressure. If something goes wrong, you've got to look at the situation in a cool and calm manner so you can make a rational decision." Peter Harding, Marine EngineerWhat Does a Marine Engineer do?

• Marine engineers are responsible for the design and construction of ships, the construction of ports and waterfront cargo facilities, and the operation of ships and support vessels.
• They design, construct and develop nautical equipments.
• They are also responsible for selecting the ships machinery, which may include diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines or nuclear reactors.
• They are also responsible for the design of mechanical, electrical, fluid and control systems throughout the vessel.
• They also make sure of the safety of the ship while it is in the sea.

Work Prospects:

Public and private shipping companies are the main job creators for Marine engineers. Navy, engine production firms, ship building and designing firms, research bodies are some of the other firms where Marine engineers are highly in demand. Marine Engineers can take up employment in different foreign and Indian shipping companies and with the port and harbor departments.

The latest developments in moving natural gas from ports to the pipeline offer excellent opportunity for future graduates looking to work portside. They are in great demand in the oil and gas industry where they have to design and build pipelines and other equipment.

Marine Engineers are also employed in the areas of designing, research and consultancy. They have opportunities in designing and building firms and even in the teaching or training profession. They can also opt for any job that a mechanical or electrical engineering graduate hunt for.

Scope of Marine Engineering:
 
Jobs in this field are extremely lucrative. This is because it is a tough academic choice that requires hard work and intelligence. You may very well be starting off with over 40000 once you graduate. Job seekers on oil tankers are even higher paid.
Marine engineer have a number of job opportunities on shore as well. Ports require the services of trained marine engineers and so does the shipping industry in general. Then you have a number of openings in the government sector of Directorate General of Shipping. You can also continue in the field of teaching marine engineering in an institute.
Many international companies are willing to recruit fresh graduates in the field. They offer them training along with generous compensations that makes it a great career line. There are plenty of job opportunities in France and the U.K as well.