Marine engineering technicians work in a practical way in jobs connected with the sea. Their work divides into three areas:

Marine engineering technicians usually work around 37.5 hours a week and work in a wide range of different environments. Some spend most of their time working at a desk, while others carry out practical jobs.
The starting salary for a newly-qualified marine engineering technician is around £12,000 a year, and could rise to about £30,000 for an experienced technician.
Marine engineering technicians need to:

There are good openings for marine engineering technicians in the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, in shipbuilding and ship repair yards, or with plant and equipment manufacturers.
The usual entry route for young people is through an Advanced Apprenticeship. The Royal Navy artificer training can lead to marine engineering technician status. A number of colleges offer diploma courses accredited by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST).
To gain the status of EngTech, marine engineering technicians must gain a qualification through an appropriate engineering institution and register formally with the Engineering Council UK.
Engineering technicians are employed in supervisory positions. There are good opportunities to work abroad. With further study and the right experience marine engineering technicians can become incorporated and chartered engineers.

What is the work like?
Marine engineering technicians work with marine engineers building, converting, servicing and repairing ships and offshore platforms, and the equipment installed in them.
There are three main branches of marine engineering:
Ocean engineering - working below the sea:

Offshore engineering - working on the sea:

Onshore engineering - working on dry land:

Marine engineering technicians often work in teams headed by an incorporated or chartered engineer.
The starting salary for newly-qualified marine engineering technicians is around £12,000 a year.

Hours and environment

Working hours vary from job to job, but technicians usually work around 37.5 hours a week. Overtime and shift work may be necessary.
Marine engineering technicians work in a wide range of different environments, including:

Some spend most of their time working at a desk, while others carry out practical jobs.
Safety equipment, including hard hats and protective overalls, are worn when necessary for practical work. Marine engineering technicians working underwater would need appropriate diving and underwater equipment.
 
Some jobs can involve long periods away from home.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Skills and personal qualities

A marine engineering technician should:

Interests

It is important to:

Getting in

Most opportunities for marine engineering technicians are on or near the coast. Around 300 marine engineering technicians are registered with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), although this number does not take into account people doing the work without the engineering technician qualification. There is a shortage of trained personnel and opportunities have increased in recent years.
Jobs are likely to be advertised in Marine Engineers’ Review, The Journal of Offshore Technology and the local press.
 
There are openings for marine engineering technicians in the Royal Navy and in civilian life.
The Royal Navy trains marine engineers and marine engineering technicians. Jobs are usually on:

There are some openings for technicians on submarines, but at present these are only available for men. (Opportunities for women are not available because of the problems of providing acceptable levels of privacy in accommodation quarters.)
For information about careers in the Royal Navy contact the local Armed Forces Careers Office listed in the telephone directory or telephone the careers hotline 01223 315118.
The Merchant Navy consists of a large number of ships operated by individual shipping companies, operating across the world. It includes:

Trainees are sponsored by a training company, and training programmes involve periods at college and at sea.
A list of shipping companies is available from the Merchant Navy Training Board and on the Merchant Navy website.
Shipbuilding and ship repair. There are six commercial shipyards in the UK, based in Belfast, Merseyside, Tyneside, Barrow-in-Furness, Portsmouth/Southampton and on the Clyde.
Work today is largely centred on building specialist vessels, such as pipe laying vessels and survey ships for the Royal Navy and the offshore industry.
Opportunities exist all around the UK coast with companies building and repairing yachts and small ships.
Plant and equipment manufacturers offer good employment opportunities to marine engineering technicians, designing and making products and equipment for use in shipyards, on oil platforms and on vessels.
Information on careers in the marine engineering industry is available from local Connexions centres.

Entry for young people
A usual entry route is through an Advanced Apprenticeship leading to a technician level qualification. Some Apprenticeships lead directly to engineering technician registration by the Engineering Council UK, which means individuals can use the letters EngTech after their name.
Entry requirements for Apprenticeships vary, but are likely to be four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) including maths, science or technology or an Intermediate GNVQ/GSVQ Level II. In some cases an A level/H grade or equivalent qualification is required. The usual age of entry to an Apprenticeship is 16 or above, with training normally completed by the age of 25 years.
Apprenticeships which may be available in England are Young Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships. To find out which one is most appropriate log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk or contact the local Connexions Partnership.
Apprenticeships may be different, depending on where people live. In Scotland they are Skillseekers - contact Careers Scotland www.careers-scotland.org.uk for further information; in Wales, Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships - contact Careers Wales www.careerswales.com; and in Northern Ireland, Modern Apprenticeships - contact COIU www.delni.gov.uk.
Other qualifications leading to registration as an engineering technician are:

Before applying for a training course, it is a good idea to check with IMarEST that the course is accredited and leads to membership at engineering technician level.
Entry for training courses run by the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy are usually
three to five GCSEs/H grades (A-C/1-3) including maths, physics or a related subject and English, or equivalent qualifications. An A level or SCE Higher in maths, physics or a related subject is an advantage.
In addition to academic qualifications, candidates for registration as engineering technicians need to have gained practical experience working in the marine engineering industry.

Entry for adults
Applications are welcomed from adults who do not have any of these entry qualifications, but who have relevant work experience.

Training

The Apprenticeship programme takes three to four years and includes training in the work place and at college. It leads to an NVQ/SVQ in Marine Engineering at either Level 2 or 3 and often to additional qualifications such as a BTEC national certificate or diploma.
Merchant Navy cadets train at one of three colleges. Training combines time at college with sea service and lasts between three and four years.
The Royal Navy artificer entry leads to engineering technician status.
Training with both the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy includes lengthy periods at sea.
Candidates have to be over 21 years before they can apply for registered engineering technician status with IMarEST. A complete list of accredited courses and routes leading to marine engineering status can be found on the IMarEST website.
To obtain the qualification of engineering technician, registration is needed with the Engineering Council UK. This requires an appropriate qualification, such as an NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or a BTEC national certificate or diploma together with membership of a professional organisation such as the Institution of Incorporated Engineers. This is followed by at least three years’ work experience and a final test called a Professional Review.

Getting on

Many marine engineers travel to different parts of the world as part of their job, working in areas such as the Pacific Rim, the Middle East and the South Atlantic.
As they gain experience, marine engineering technicians can be employed in supervisory level jobs in all areas of the industry.
It is also possible with further study and experience to progress to incorporated engineer or chartered engineer status.

Related jobs
 
Engineering Maintenance Technician
Engineering Operative
Marine Craftsperson
Marine Engineer
Materials Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Merchant Navy Engineering Officer 

Further information

British Marine Federation, Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 8BF. 01784 473377. Website: www.britishmarine.co.uk
Directorate of Naval Recruitment, Room 043, Victory Building, HMS Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LS. 0845 607 5555. Website: www.rnjobs.co.uk
Engineering Careers Information Service (ECIS) a function of SEMTA the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, 14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT. 0800 282 167. Website: www.semta.org.uk or careers website: www.enginuity.org.uk
Engineering Council UK (ECUK), 10 Maltravers Street, London WC2R 3ER. 020 7240 7891. Website: www.engc.org.uk
Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ. 020 7382 2600. Website: www.imarest.org
Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), Carthusian Court, 12 Carthusian Street, London EC1M 6EZ. 020 7417 2800. Website: www.mntb.org.uk

Further reading

Engineering Guide - Hobsons
Working in engineering - Connexions
Your Future in the Boating Industry - BMIF

Magazines/journals:

Marine Engineers’ Review
The Journal of Offshore Technology
(Some may be priced)

For further details please see:

http://www.connexions-direct.com/

Crown copyright and source acknowledged.