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Ship Engineers - 53-5031.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Barge Engineer
  • Engineer
  • Ferry Engineer
  • Harbor Engineer
  • Port Engineer
  • Ship Engineer
  • Towboat Engineer
  • Tug Boat Engineer
  • Vessel Engineer

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.
  • Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
  • Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.
  • Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
  • Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
  • Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
  • Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
  • Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
  • Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
  • Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
  • Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
  • Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
  • Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
  • Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
  • Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction, and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.
  • Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
  • Supervise marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels, and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Acquire supplies or equipment.
  • Clean facilities or work areas.
  • Clean machinery or equipment.
  • Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
  • Control pumps or pumping equipment.
  • Direct emergency management activities.
  • Direct maintenance or repair activities.
  • Fabricate products or components using machine tools.
  • Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
  • Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.
  • Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
  • Monitor engine operation or functioning.
  • Operate ships or other watercraft.
  • Record operational details of travel.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Advance Seal Delivery System Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • ALCO (251C), and General Motors EMD (645) Diesel Engine Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Equipment Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Equipment Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Auxiliary Machinery Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Auxiliary Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Boiler Officer (1200 psi Steam System) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Boiler Officer (General) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Cannon Crewmember (Army - Enlisted)
  • Caterpillar Diesel Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Causeway Lighterage Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Cavalry Scout (Army - Enlisted)
  • CG 47 Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG 47/LHD-1 Electrical Component Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG Smart Ship Engineering Control System Equipment (ECSE) Electrical Operator and Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CG Smart Ship Engineering Control System Equipment (ECSE) Mechanical Operator and Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Combat Engineer (Army - Enlisted)
  • Combat Medic Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Conversion NEC EN Engineman Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Conversion NEC GS Gas Turbine Systems Technician Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Conversion NEC MM Machinist's Mate Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Cummins and Steyr Diesel Engines Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CVN Propulsion Plant Non-Nuclear Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • CWO - Engineering Technician, Surface (Navy - Warrant Officer only)
  • Damage Control Assistant (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • DDG 1000 ZUMWALT Class Integrated Power System (IPS) Electrical Maintenance Technician - Journeyman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Integrated Power Systems Operations Journeyman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51 FLT I-II Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG 51-M Gas Turbine Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • DDG-51 FLT I-II Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Diesel Engine Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Electrician's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Electronic Automatic Boiler Controls Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Engineering Afloat (Coast Guard - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Engineman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Fire Marshall (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine Electrical Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • General Dynamics (GD) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Core Crew Mission Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Infantryman (Army - Enlisted)
  • Intelligence Analyst (Army - Enlisted)
  • Intermediate Maintenance Activity (IMA) Nuclear Worker (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Landing Craft Air Cushion Deck Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Landing Craft Air Cushion Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCAC Craft Engineer/Assistant Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCAC Deck Engineer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCS-1 (Freedom Variant) Engineering Plant Technician (EPT) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCS-1 (Freedom Variant) Readiness Control Officer (RCO) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LCS-2 (Independence Variant) Engineering Plant Technician (EPT) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LDO - Engineering/Repair, Submarine (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • LDO - Engineering/Repair, Surface (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • LDO - Nuclear Power (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • LHA - 6 (AMERICA)/LHD - 8 (MAKIN ISLAND) Class Ship Auxiliary Propulsion System (APS) Electrical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LHA -6 (AMERICA)/LHD -8 (MAKIN ISLAND) Class Ship Gas Turbine Mechanical Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LHA -6 (AMERICA)/LHD -8 (MAKIN ISLAND) Class Ship Machinery Control System (MCS) Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Lockheed Martin (LM) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Core Crew Mission Specialist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LPD 17 Class Engineering Control System (ECS) Master Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LPD-17 Class Diesel Engine Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LPD-17 Class Electric Plant Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LSD 41/49 Class Colt Pielstick Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LSD-41 Class Propulsion Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • LSD-41/49 Class Advanced Engineering Control System (AECS-MCS) Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • M1 Armor Crewman (Army - Enlisted)
  • Machinery Installation and Repair Superintendent (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Machinery Repairman Apprentice (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinery Repairman Journeyman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinery Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate (Submarine) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate (Surface) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinist's Mate, Nuclear Power (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinists Mate (Weapons) (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Machinists Mate, Non-Nuclear, Submarine Auxiliary (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Main Engine Officer (General) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Engine Officer (Steam) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Propulsion Assistant (1200 psi Steam System) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Propulsion Assistant (Diesel) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Propulsion Assistant (Gas Turbine) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Propulsion Assistant (General) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Main Propulsion Assistant (Steam) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Marine Engineering Officer (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Marine Safety Specialist Engineer (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • MCM Propulsion Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Mechanical Habitability Auxiliary Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Military Police (Army - Enlisted)
  • MTU 2000 Series Diesel Engine Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Diesel Engine, Governor, and Injector Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Gas Turbine (Electrical) Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Gas Turbine Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Inside Electrical Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Inside Machinist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Outside Electrical Repair Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • NAMTS Outside Machinist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Naval Engineering (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Naval Engineering Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • PAXMAN Valenta Diesel Engine Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Propulsion Plant Mechanical Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Propulsion Plant Mechanical Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • RL - Engineering Duty Officer - Ship Engineering (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • RL - Special Duty Officer - Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO) (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • SDV MK8/MK11 Team Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Ship Electrical Repair Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Ship's Electrical Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Ship's Engineer Officer (Diesel) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Ship's Engineer Officer (Gas Turbine) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Ship's Engineer Officer (General) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Ship's Engineer Officer (Steam) (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Small Craft Mechanic (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • SSN/SSBN Diesel Engine (Fairbanks-Morse) Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Maintainer (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Manager (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Plant Auxiliary Systems Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steam Propulsion Maintenance Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Steering Gear Systems Mechanical Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Submarine Propulsion Plant Electrical Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Operator (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surface Propulsion Plant Electrical Supervisor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Unit Supply Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • URL - Submarine Warfare (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • URL - Surface Warfare (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Watercraft Engineer (Army - Enlisted)
  • Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (Oicew)

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Engineer