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Career as Marine Engineer

Marine Engineers take on the responsibility of designing and structuring all sea-bound vessels and other structures, starting from oil platforms to cruise ships. Their primary focus is they mainly deal with the internal systems of these vessels, focusing mainly on the electrical, environmental and propulsion systems. Oceans all over the world are plied with vessels like oil and cargo ships that carry around people and goods on a daily basis. It is a Marine engineer’s job to ensure the safety of these people and goods that are transported using sea bound vessels made to their designs and structure. Designing vessels that can withstand such extreme conditions as is seen on the sea is no easy feat, and requires skill and precision that one has to master to become a successful Marine Engineer.

About Marine Engineer :
Job Profile |
How do I get there?

Job Profile

The day to day duties of a marine engineer depends on the specifications of the vessel that they are looking into. However, the basic job roles of a marine engineer can be broadly stated in the following points:

Designing the propulsion system to deliver the requisite power. They are also required to design other specifics of the ship, such as the steering system, heating cooling and ventilation systems of the vessel apart from the hydraulics.
After they have figured out the specifics of the location of every equipment that is to be installed in the vessel, the marine engineer is required to create layout and schematics for the project, working on intricate details such as the work schedule and cost estimate for the project that is then to be approved by the management.
As the work continues to progress, the role of the marine engineer turns more supervisory in nature. He can conduct inspections or tests to catch and fix any issues as and when they arise. They make sure that the specific design schemes are being followed within the cost estimate and prepare progress reports to share with the clients.
Most of a Marine Engineer’s job is office-based. However, there will arise times when a marine engineer will be required to conduct on board research and trials to test the performance of the vessel to fix any issues if they arise. Offshore engineers are usually stationed at oil rigs to supervise the efforts that are made to maintain the oil rig’s mechanical systems efficiently.

As for the salary that is obtained as a marine engineer, fresh marine engineers obtain an entry-level salary of approximately Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum. This expands up to 300 to 1200 USD per month.

Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster

In the field of marine engineering, career advancement usually occurs with experience. With experience and time spent in the industry, marine engineers can move into supervisory roles or management positions. The USCG license helps a marine engineer move forward in his career; the higher the level of the license, the greater the responsibilities that the engineer is required to handle.

Pros and Cons of being a Marine Engineer

Pros

A Marine Engineer earns a decent salary even as a fresher just out of college. This scale only sees a rise throughout his career.
Marine Engineering offers great job security. Since it requires specific training, the job only accommodates selective people and is watertight; it does not allow entry for people belonging to other streams. Therefore, it provides lesser competition and greater job security.
A Marine Engineer also enjoys the privilege of having many job options. Due to the variety of experiences that he has at hand, a Marine Engineer can also easily switch over to the managerial aspect of his job.

Cons

Marine Engineers have to be faced with a tough and challenging job profile. Very often, they have to work in situations of great adversity.
Marine Engineers have to be away from their families for long durations throughout the year.
Marine Engineers are faced with a multitude of health issues due to the adverse conditions that they work in.

How do I get there?

To pursue a career in marine engineering, a student needs to pass his 10+2 examinations with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as his subjects, from a school affiliated to a nationally recognised board. At the next level, he will have to pursue his graduation and obtain a degree in Marine Engineering. There are many colleges and universities that offer undergraduate courses in Marine Engineering, but it is best advised to obtain the degree from educational institutions that specialise in that arena.

Some of the courses that will be a part of a Marine Engineering degree are power production, electrical engineering as well as fluid dynamics, given that the job of a marine engineer deals with the design and operation of shipboard electrical and environmental systems, along with power plants. For further education, a postgraduate course in Marine Engineering will involve courses in Naval Architecture, which includes the overall design structure of any sea-bound vessel. Marine engineers who have obtained a PhD in their field of study are at the pinnacle of their career path.

With the number of complexities that exist in these large scale operations, there is no limit when it comes to learning about Marine Engineering.

How much does it cost?

The tuition fee for a B. Tech course in Marine Engineering can cost approximately Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. The course fee for the same at private institutions may cost higher than the estimated range. As for an M. Tech degree in Marine Engineering, the tuition fee can be within the range of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. The entry salary for a marine engineer after completing these courses is estimated to be around Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum.

What are the Top Colleges where one can go to study to become a marine engineer?

Although there are multiple colleges and universities that offer courses on marine engineering in India, it is important to make sure that you study in an educational institution that provides good faculty, infrastructure and placement opportunities. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have created a list of the top ten colleges for courses on Marine Engineering in India.

Rank of College	Name of College, City	Programme Fees
1.	Indian Institute of Technology, Madras	Rs 8.82 lakh
2.	Hindustan Institute of Maritime Technology (HITM), Chennai	Rs 12 lakh
3.	Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI), Pune	Rs 18.10 lakh
4.	Delhi Maritime Academy, Delhi	Rs 16 lakh
5.	Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi	Rs 70,560
6.	Andhra University, Visakhapatnam	Rs 8 lakh
7.	Indian Maritime University Chennai, Mumbai	Rs 9 lakh
8.	Indian Maritime University, Kolkata	Rs 9 lakh
9.	Praveenya Institute of Marine Engineering, Vizianagaram	Rs 12 lakh
10.	International Maritime Academy, Chennai	Rs 12.45 lakh

Books and other Study Material

Marine engineering applicants can refer to the following books to help them in their preparation process.

Introduction to Marine Engineering – D.A. Taylor
General Engineering Knowledge (Marine Engineering) – H.D McGeorge
Marine Auxiliary Machinery – H.D McGeorge

What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?

If a few years into the marine engineering profession you decide that the sea is not your calling, you can switch to alternative career options that are still in keeping with your education. Some marine engineers switch over to a managerial level and supervise the activity that is taking place onboard the vessels. Some marine engineers also switch to sales, providing advice to clients regarding the planning and execution of projects.

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Content on this page is by Career Expert
Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon
MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile

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