Yacht Engineer - The Role and the Path?

Trust me bobbing about the ocean in the middle of a Typhoon with another one heading your way in the South China sea, having put out the latest scavenge fire and trying to get the engine to run the last thing on your mind would be worrying about whether a manufacturer or an insurance would give you permission.

As a chief engineer you are required, and I always wanted to do it anyway, to go on all kinds of courses from fuel systems, turbo-chargers, power generation, various engine builders and control and electronic courses. It may take me a little longer to sort things out but we have to do it. It is nice to think that in this day and age you can have IT tech's on board but trust me with the cut backs in manning from say 42 men on a 15,000 ton ship to 14 men & women on a 110,000 ton ship there are not many dedicated IT guys on a ship.

I have many friends who have left the sea and found jobs in all kinds of places, power stations, breweries and hotels to note a few and the good thing is properly trained engineers can move from one job to another as they can adapt.

I would hate to think that any young aspiring engineer read these posts and read the rubbish about changing cylinders while the engine is running and for them to join a yacht or freighter and trying that. Why did he try it, oh, a licensed Captain said it could be done.

Proper training from the commercial side or the Coast Guard would be ways to get the experience and to move onto yachts.

Now where do I apply for that job with "Booze, Babes and Bucks"

Not for MCA yacht tickets (AEC takes one week, MEOL is 24 months sea time, Y4 is another 12 months) - AEC seems to be sufficient for many entry level positions (especially on sailing yachts, but does not give any useful on-board training - that is why I think two to four weeks in addition to the AEC would create a productive 2nd or AV-IT engineer if they have a technical trade diploma or BSc and more than five years shore-side experience).

Rod

P.S. Ooops, I missed the second page of discussions.

P.P.S. I am not contending that the MCA route produces "commercial grade" engineers, just that, since the MCA yacht tickets exist, it could be possible to get competent entry-level or support engineering crew for the yachting "environment" (which does not usually entail taking care of systems on the ocean during typhoons) from the shore-side talent pool with a minimal amount of additional training.

To start, I am not doubting your skills (nor ever was) as a marine engineer, experience, or belittling you.

However, there is a huge difference between being a marine engineer on the Bart Roberts, and someone who is an engineer starting out that might find his way on say a 135' Delta. I highly doubt that any seriously accomplished marine engineers are going to want to take the pay cut, or job on a 135'.

Lets say under 175', no marine engineer is going to be expected to use a lathe in the engine room, change injectors (except in extreme cases), rebuild a turbo or complete engine, etc. You just don't have the means to do it in many cases. So how does a young engineer gain real world experience? That was the topic of this thread.

As for the freighter, I wouldn't know the first thing about an engine in one. I've rebuilt several 4 cycle gasonline engines, could rebuild a DD or something to that effect if push came to shove and I had the book in front of me. I've overseen a few rebuilt, and mainly I'd need the book for setting the injectors and valves and such. But anyways, technically on the freighter they could remove the cylinder head, piston and rod at the last port, then change the liner underway, set the rings on the new piston/rod, prep the cylinder head, and get everything cleaned and ready so at the next port they could then set the piston/rod in, connect it to the crank, bolt the cylinder head on, and have the engine cylinder done and ready to go in the 2-3 days the freighter is getting unloaded/loaded at the next port?

I feel it is better if someone say came from a CAT heavy equipment background before going for the schooling/training side of becoming a marine engineer. At least their prior experience gives them a lot of knowledge about diesels and hydraulics as well as a good mechanical aptitude. Versus having no experience and just going to school.

I have no interest in becoming a marine engineer by trade, I'd rather be at the helm instead of stuck in the engine room. I can repair just about all systems on the yachts I run to proper standards, however, I am not going to pull a head off of an engine or anything internal in the engines. I'm a Captain, and just like your south sea explanation have to fix things to keep going.

Does your boat have an EIAPP certificate?

CaptJ, do you ever bother going back to your previous posts and read them, I had no intention typing for what seemed for ever yesterday explaining to any young engineer how NOT to change a piston as you described but then I read your complete opposite explanation this morning.

You never wrote that they would remove in one port and replace in the next and I was simply pointing out to any young engineer that your first explanation was so wromg it was potentially very dangerous.

As for some comments about freighters, again CaptJ brought them up and I was merely responding on a subject that I know about and he obviously does not.

and like you say back to the original question about training, I still stick to my point in asking why should it be easy. Your training should be such that you are capable of doing anything on a yacht (just like we were trained on a ship).

Would I have expected to have left school and be looking for a chief engineers job on a 60' or a 160' or even bigger yacht. No I had to go the proper route to learn my trade as an apprentice and it went a bit like this,

Cadet - anybodies dog's body + chief's runner
Junior Engineer - anybodies dog's body + chief's runner
6th Engineer - 2nd Engineers runner
5th Engineer - Chief engineer's assistant when taking fuel, air compressors and hydraulics
4th Engineer - purifiers, fuel & electroncis
3rd Engineer - generators & electric + assisting electrician
2nd Engineer - main engines & dreaming of a chiefs job
Chief Engineer - Finally making it to find that the world has changed and discover that you no longer had any more than a 2nd & 3rd to assist you.

If you want to attain improvement in your skills you need to be dedicted and sacrifice alot to get there. Would an IT tech be capable of doing the job, possibly, a Caterpillar mechanic may have a better chance, how many lathes have I seen on yachts, one. That is not the point I was making.

My point is a properly trained & qualified marine engineer from either the freighters or the navy has been trained in the many disciplines found on a ship or a yacht, he has had to pass very hard government set exams and not "just" attended a few courses.

I am all for bringing the standards up and not down.

I swore I wouldn't get involved in this mud wresting exercise but if you really have a MSc in ME then just go to the MCA and apply for a real license and get beyond this Y limited silliness.

You will have to spend some time at sea on a ship working under the supervision of a marine engineer but will then have a real license to go with a real degree and you can then go do anything you want on any kind of vessel. There are ETO opportunities for those with an underlying professional marine engineering CoC.

You are wasting your time arguing with yacht captains and yacht engineers and getting in the middle of a manhood measuring contest. Collect all your paperwork and see what you can convert it to in the real world paperchase then go spend some time with professionals. Come back to yachting when you realize how ridiculous this argument is and help improve the breed.

What nationality are you and your diplomas and certificates? For some reason I thought you were a "red ensign" guy.

WOW reaading all of this has givin me a headace it makes crabing in the bering sea seem like a vacation i think i will stick with my old D398 and 2 old 3306 225 kw gensets and be happy ( and keep some wood plugs to drive in the bottom if we spring a leake )

the best to you all travler

At least now you know that you can replace a cylinder in anyone of them while at sea and the engines are running. That should give you time to prepare your resume with all that Caterpillar experience for the "Booze, Birds & Bucks" job on the white boats.

THANKS i think i will keep my job , i don't fit that mold very well i tried that for a year after i thought i would retire then reality set in and i am back to what i love best (except for spoiling that grand kids )

cheers travler

Have you submitted your diplomas to the Swedish maritime authority for evaluation toward a CoC? Sweden is on the Cayman Islands "white list" so a Swedish certificate is endorsable for service on a Cayman vessel. You do not have to play the MCA game at all.