Engineer officers, water transport
High opportunity occupation
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
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.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
220% Employed Full Time
61%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.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
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
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!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
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
220Employment by Region
| 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% |
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)
80Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| 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% |
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
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 60 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
| Agriculture and Fishing | 10 |
| Public Administration | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
