Article: Maritime Engineering and Naval Architecture

Summary
This article covers the following jobs:

Boat Builder
Maritime Engineer
Maritime Engineering Technician
Naval Architect.

The job descriptions are only a brief summary. It is recommended that you do further research on jobs that interest
you.

Introduction
People working in maritime/marine engineering and naval architecture are involved in the design, construction,
operation and maintenance of sea-going vessels (such as boats, ships and submarines), of structures (such as
offshore oil and gas rigs), and of the equipment and machinery that is used on them.

Some of the careers in this area

Maritime Engineer

Maritime engineers design, develop, operate and maintain the equipment and systems that are used on ships,
offshore oil and gas installations, and underwater vessels.

They specialise in offshore engineering, marine engineering or shore-based industries.

Offshore engineering involves the exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals. Offshore engineers work
closely with other specialists, such as geologists, to decide the best place to site offshore oil or gas installations.

They make sure that the exploration work will be cost effective and yield the maximum amount of the natural
resource.

Marine engineering is concerned with the design, construction and operation of a vessel's propulsion machinery and
linked equipment and systems. Marine engineers work on container ships, passenger liners, pipelaying vessels,
warships and submarines, for example.

In shore-based industries, maritime engineers design and oversee the construction of new ships. These days, the
emphasis is on building specialist vessels, especially for the offshore industry and the Royal Navy.

The usual requirement for this career is a relevant degree or HND.

Maritime Engineering Technician

Maritime engineering technicians support the work of maritime engineers in three main areas: offshore engineering,
marine engineering and shore-based industries.

In offshore engineering, technicians may work as support maintenance staff, responsible for maintaining the
complex equipment that is used on oil and gas wells.

In marine engineering, sea-going technicians work on a wide variety of vessels, including container ships, passenger
liners, pipelaying vessels, warships and submarines.

In the Royal Navy, engineering technicians are highly skilled and may lead teams of other technicians and mechanics.

In the Merchant Navy, engineering technicians operate and maintain ships' propulsion machinery and help to
manage electronic/electrical systems.

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 Maritime engineering technicians employed in shore-based industries work in shipyards, supervising craft workers.
They may also be involved in quality control or design work.

Entry to trainee positions is usually with at least four GCSEs at grade C or above, including English, Maths and a
science, technology or engineering subject.

Boat Builder

Boat builders build, maintain, repair and restore boats. They use materials like wood, glass, plastic and steel.

They cut, shape and put together materials using hand tools and power tools.

The work includes making moulds, building the frame of the boat, and then bending, fitting and fixing wood into
place.

As a boat builder, you need to be accurate and pay attention to detail. You'll need good practical skills.

You don't always need qualifications to enter this work, but some GCSEs are useful.

You usually train by doing an apprenticeship, working towards relevant work-based qualifications.

Naval Architect

Naval architects oversee the design, construction and maintenance of ships, submarines and offshore rigs.

In design teams, they have a special role in making sure that the team produces a safe, economic and seaworthy
design. For example, a ship must be stable and have enough strength to cope with all types of weather.

In construction and repair, naval architects may be responsible for a section of the shipyard. They organise the
supply, inspection and testing of parts and materials. They manage repair teams.

Naval architects usually complete a relevant accredited degree in a subject such as naval architecture.

Further Information
Contacts

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)

Address: Aldgate House, 33 Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1EN
Tel: 020 7382 2600
Website: www.imarest.org

Sea Vision UK
Email: enquiries@seavision.org.uk
Website: www.seavision.org.uk

Marine Scientist
Publisher: Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
Website: www.imarest.org/Publications/MarineScientist.aspx

British Marine Federation (BMF)

Address: Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 8BF
Tel: 01784 473377
Email: info@britishmarine.co.uk
Website: www.britishmarine.co.uk

Royal Institution of Naval Architects

Address: 10 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BQ
Tel: 020 7235 4622
Email: hq@rina.org.uk
Website: www.rina.org.uk

Society for Underwater Technology (SUT)

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 Address: 1 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1BR
Tel: 020 3440 5535
Email: info@sut.org
Website: www.sut.org.uk

Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) Aberdeen Branch

Scottish enquiries
Address: Enterprise Centre, Exploration Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8GX
Tel: 01224 823637
Email: info@sut.org
Website: www.aberdeen.sut.org.uk

Your Future in the Boating Industry

Publisher: British Marine Federation (BMF)
Website: www.britishmarine.co.uk/upload_pub/27441_bmf_your_future41.pdf

Related Careers
Boat Builder
Maritime Engineer
Naval Architect
Maritime Engineering Technician

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