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Engineer officers, water transport

(NOC 72603)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$88,638
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
College Diploma or Apprenticeship, 2 or more years
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
80

Career Overview

Engineer officers, water transport:

  • Operate and maintain main engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment aboard ships and other self-propelled vessels
  • Supervise and coordinate the activities of engine room crews
  • Work for marine transportation companies and federal government departments

Job Titles

Apprentice marine engineer officer
Assistant engineer - water transport
Chief engineer - water transport
Chief marine engineer - water transport
Coast Guard vessel chief engineer
Coast Guard vessel first watchkeeping engineer
Coast Guard vessel marine engineer officer
Coast Guard vessel second engineer
Coast Guard vessel second watchkeeping engineer
Coast Guard vessel senior engineer
Coast Guard vessel third engineer
Coast Guard vessel third watchkeeping engineer
Engineer officer - water transport
Factory freezer trawler chief marine engineer
Factory freezer trawler first engineer
Factory freezer trawler second engineer
Fishing vessel chief engineer
Fishing vessel engineer officer
Fourth engineer - water transport
Junior engineer - water transport
Marine engineer officer
Marine engineer officer-cadet (except armed forces)
Marine engineer officer - water transport
Marine second engineer - water transport
Marine senior engineer - water transport
Mobile platform chief engineer - offshore drilling
Offshore drilling rig marine engineer officer
Second engineer
Second engineer - water transport
Self-propelled barge marine engineer officer
Self-propelled drilling rig chief engineer
Self-propelled drilling rig first engineer
Self-propelled drilling rig marine engineer officer
Self-propelled drilling rig second engineer
Ship engineer officer
Third engineer - water transport
Tugboat engineer

Duties

Engineer officers, water transport, perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate main engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment aboard ships, such as boilers, steering and deck machinery, motors, pumps, generators and condensers
  • Stand engine room watch, monitoring and noting performance of engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment
  • Inspect and conduct maintenance and emergency repair to engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of engine room crew
  • Maintain records and prepare reports on engine performance and failures

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$88,638

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$55.60/hr
Median$42.50/hr
Low$25.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

220

% Employed Full Time

61%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of work in this occupation :

  • Work takes place in a typical controlled environment
  • Work also takes place on ships or other self-propelled vessels
  • Working on boats and ships with varied sea conditions can be hazardous
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools may be a source of injury
  • The workplace may be noisy enough to cause distraction or hearing loss

 

Career Pathways

Movement between employers is possible for positions requiring the same level of certification. Progression to management positions in transportation is possible with experience.

Fourth Class Marine Engineer certificate is the entry level of a four-level certification program offered by Transport Canada. Progression from one level of certification to the next requires additional experience, training and testing.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is required
  • Completion of a three-year cadet program in marine engineering from an approved marine training institute
    or
    Approximately three years of experience as an engine room crew member and six months of formal training at an approved marine training institute
    or
    Approximately three years of experience as an engine mechanic and six months of experience as an engine room crew member are required for certification as a fourth class marine engineer
  • A marine engineer officer certificate of competency, issued by Transport Canada, is required

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Marine Training
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

72%
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

72%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

72%
Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

68%
Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

68%
Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

65%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

65%
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.

62%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

62%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

62%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

220
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 0 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 95 43.2%
North Coast and Nechako 15 6.8%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 10 4.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 90 40.9%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

80
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo Not available Not available
Kootenay Not available Not available
Mainland/Southwest 50 2.1%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan Not available Not available
Vancouver Island/Coast 40 0.9%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Transportation and Warehousing60
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services10
Agriculture and Fishing10
Public Administration10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.