Occupation Summary

Ship Engineers

O*NET 53-5031.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$121,289.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 6.36%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
  2. Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
  3. Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
  4. 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.
  5. Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
  6. Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
  7. Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
  8. Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
  9. Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
  10. Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
  11. Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
  12. Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
  13. 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.
  14. Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
  15. 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.
  16. Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
  17. Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Ship Engineers employed Annual Growth Rate
Support activities for water transportation 26.5 0.00
Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation 26.3 0.41
Inland water transportation 15.7 0.00
Scenic and sightseeing transportation, water 2.1 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $58.31
2024 National average hourly wage $50.77
2022 National employment 9,300
2022 Texas employment 456
Texas projected employment by 2032 485
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 53




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
90.20%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
71.00%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
70.20%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
69.20%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
65.60%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
65.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
64.00%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
59.40%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
58.80%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
55.20%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
77.60%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
77.60%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
77.60%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
75.00%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
75.00%
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
75.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
72.40%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
72.40%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
70.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
72.40%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
72.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
70.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
67.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.00%


  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    -- Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Adjustable widemouth pliers: Water pump pliers;

Allen wrench: Allen wrench sets;

Ball peen hammer: Ball peen hammers;

Box end wrenches: Box wrenches;

Calipers: Vernier calipers;

Claw hammer: Bell-faced claw hammers; Plain faced claw hammers;

Cold chisels: Half round chisels; Flat cold chisels; Cape chisels; Diamond point chisels; Round nose chisels;

Combination pliers: Combination jaw pliers;

Combination wrenches: Combination wrenches;

Commercial water heaters: Feedwater heating equipment;

Condensing units: Condensers;

Cross and straight pein hammer: Cross peen hammers; Straight peen hammers;

Curved nose pliers: Curved needle nosed pliers;

Depth gauges: Digital depth gauges;

Diagonal cut pliers: Diagonal cutting pliers;

Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial gauges;

Diesel engines: Diesel ship engines;

Electric boilers: Boilers;

End cut pliers: Side cutting pliers;

Evaporative coolers: Cooling towers;

Feeler gauges: Feeler gauges;

Fire suppression system: Fire suppression systems;

Flat hand file: Double cut files; Single cut files;

Flat nose pliers: Duck bill pliers;

Fuel pumps: Fuel pumps;

Gas generators: Gas powered generators;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Hacksaw: Adjustable hacksaws; Solid hacksaws;

Hammers: Plastic hammers; Riveting hammers;

Hex keys: Bristol wrenches;

Inspection mirror: Long-handled inspection mirrors;

Jigsaw: Portable jigsaws;

Longnose pliers: Long nose pliers;

Mallets: Rawhide mallets; Wood mallets; Carpenter's mallets;

Micrometers: Digital micrometers;

Mobile medical services first aid kits: First aid kits;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Nut drivers: Spintite wrenches;

Open end wrenches: Bonney wrenches; Open end wrenches;

Pipe or tube cutter: Tube cutters;

Plasma cutting machine: Gas cutters; Thermal cutters;

Power chippers: Rotary impact scalers; Pneumatic chipping hammers;

Power drills: Electric drills;

Power flaring tool: Flaring tools;

Power grinders: Portable grinders;

Power sanders: Disk sanders; Portable electric sanders;

Pullers: Gear pullers;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Prick punches; Drift punches; Hollow shank gasket punches; Pin punches; Center punch sets; Aligning punches;

Ratchets: Speed handles; Ratchet handles;

Razor knives: Scraping tools;

Rivet tools: Riveters;

Round nose pliers: Short nose pliers; Wrench pliers;

Rubber mallet: Rubber mallets;

Screwdrivers: Standard screwdrivers; Clutch tip screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers;

Shears: Powered shears;

Sledge hammer: Double faced sledge hammers; Cross peen sledge hammers;

Slip joint pliers: Slip joint pliers;

Sludge or sewage removal equipment: Sewage treatment systems;

Socket attachments and accessories: Socket extensions;

Socket sets: Socket wrench sets;

Sockets: Union nut wrenches;

Stationary separation equipment or parts or screens: Oily water separation systems;

Strain gauges: Bridge gauges;

Strap wrenches: Strap wrenches;

Sump pumps: Bilge water pumps;

Taps: Tap and die sets;

Tinners snips: Trojan snips; Straight hand snips; Aviation snips; Circle snips; Hawks bill snips;

Torque wrenches: Torque wrenches;

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe: Lathes;

Turbine engines: Gas turbine engines;

Water pumps: Ballast pumps; Firefighting pumps;

Welder gloves: Welding gloves;

Welder torch: Brazers; Welders;

Welding masks: Welding masks;

Wire brushes: File brushes;

Wire twister: Safety wire pliers;


Technology

Customer relationship management CRM software: Customer relationship management CRM software; Salesforce software;

Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database; Kongsberg Maritime K-LOG Electronic Logbooks; Microsoft Access;

Document management software: Marine Software Marine Safety Manager;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise application integration software: Electronic data interchange EDI software;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Enterprise resource planning ERP software; SAP software;

Facilities management software: Marine Software Marine Planned Maintenance; Damen DAMOS; Computerized maintenance management system CMMS;

Helpdesk or call center software: Computer aided dispatch software;

Industrial control software: Wonderware software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Apple macOS;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Project management software: Microsoft Project;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Ship Engineers include:
  • 49-3011.00 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
  • 49-2091.00 Avionics Technicians
  • 49-3031.00 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
  • 51-8013.04 Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
  • 53-4011.00 Locomotive Engineers
  • 49-9071.00 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
  • 17-2121.00 Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
  • 49-3051.00 Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
  • 53-5011.00 Sailors and Marine Oilers
  • 51-8021.00 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators


Sources of Additional Information
  • For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities in these occupations, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local unions, or firms that employ water transportation workers. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for apprenticeship opportunities.
  • For more information about water transportation workers, including employment and training information, visit: Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • For more information about licensing requirements and other credentials, visit: National Maritime Center, U.S. Coast Guard
  • Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • For information about jobs on barges, tugboats, and towboats traveling on inland and coastal waterways, visit: Lake Carriers’ Association
  • CareerOneStop

  • For career videos on water transportation workers, visit: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  • Motorboat Operators
  • Sailors and Marine Oilers
  • Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  • Motorboat Operators
  • Sailors and Marine Oilers
  • Ship Engineers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.