Chief engineer

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and the responsibility of that department.[1] As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, they must have excellent communication and leadership skills. They will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance to his or her team.

This article is about the shipboard occupation. For the corporate title also called "chief engineer" or "chief engineering officer", see Chief technology officer.
Chief engineer in the engine room of MF Bastø II, a Norwegian ferry

To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate to the tonnage, power rating, and type of ship that they are employed on. A chief engineer is ultimately responsible for all operations and maintenance that has to do with any and all engineering equipment throughout the entire ship, and supervises all other engineering officer and engine ratings within the department.[2]

The chief engineer is a similar rank as the Captain, but the Captain is the commanding officer on board and in overall command of the vessel. As commanding officer he is responsible for the vessel, cargo and crew. Therefore, all personnel on board answer to him.

United States

Job requirements
  • A Chief Engineer must be a United States citizen of at least 18 years of age.[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must acquire the knowledge of understanding, operating and maintaining the latest technology and equipment used on modern ships.[4]
  • A Chief Engineer must have the mental Strength, resolute ambition and the ability to work within a team of others.[4]
  • A Chief Engineer must be suitable for federal employment and have at least one year of experience as a First Assistant Engineer[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must hold a United States passport in his or her possession.[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must have a United States Coast Guard endorsed license[3]

Job description
  • A Chief Engineer must be able to stand watches regularly when the ship is either in the sea or in port. Remain the status of On-Call at all times[3]
  • Chief Engineer plans, directs and performs as necessary the activities of the Engineering Department in carrying out its assigned functions and responsibilities[3]
  • The Chief Engineer is the head of the crew who oversees and takes responsibilities of the ship's plant operations.
  • A Chief Engineer would have to supervise his or her fellow department personnel while providing job training and guidance to his or her fellow assistant engineers.[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must ensure each assigned task is completed and keep required records, logs and reports[3]
  • A Chief Engineer may be sent to any vessel nationwide.[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must ensure the mission of the ship can be successfully completed by supervising or personally performing particularly complex or difficult technical work and activities.[3]
  • A Chief Engineer must attain the role of a guidance for the rest of the crew and give orders or suggestions when needed.
  • A Chief Engineer would receive a various amount of Salary depending on the particular job. Salary level ranges from $156,527 to $172,736 [3] in the United States.

Designed courses for potential chief engineers

Courses for potential Chief Engineers are designed by experienced engineers who had spent years in the field of engineering already, "To determine the topics that should be included in the certificate, the team undertook an analysis of existing company training materials that were being used for training their senior level project and systems engineers."[5]

A similar training program for potential Chief Engineers, the Certified Chief Engineer (CCE) Training is also being developed by the National Association of Hotel & Lodging Engineers.[6] The development process of CCE includes gathering the input of various hotel management companies and industry professions.[6] CCE program is designed to provide a curriculum exclusively for hotel engineers and maintenance professionals.[6]

Notable representatives
NOAA Ship, Nancy Foster

George Hairston: A US Coast Guard Licensed Chief Engineer, who graduated from State University of New York Maritime College. Hairston had sailed on a United States Naval Ship spearhead.[7]

Patrick K. Brown: A US Coast Guard Licensed Chief Engineer, who was associated with discharging waste oil directly overboard.[8] As a result, Chief Engineer Brown faced up to five years of prison time, a potential fine, and a term of probation up to five years.[8]

Tim Olsen: An U.S Coast Guard Licensed Chief Engineer, who sailed on NOAA Ship Nancy Foster, an oceanographic research vessel[9] that became the first U.S. Government ship to visit Cuba since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations.[9]

See also

References
  1. Marine Chief Engineer
  2. International Maritime Organization; Chief Engineers Association; Fanning Communications, Inc. "III: Standards Regarding the Engine Department". International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978; Chief Engineer Magazine 1934. Section A–III/1.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (2018, July 24). Marine operations. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://www.omao.noaa.gov/find/careers/chief-engineer
  4. Ship doctor. (2011, July 13). Hindustan Times (New Delhi, India). Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1387B6AD979A05D0.
  5. Robertson, J., Hruska, P., Charlton, W., Lowery, D., & Thomas, R. (2004). The design of a certificate course for chief engineers. Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved from https://peer.asee.org/12752
  6. National Association of Hotel & Lodging Engineers. (February 28, 2019). Certified Chief Engineer training. Retrieved  from http://nahle.org/certifications/certified-chief-engineer-cce/
  7. Hairston, G. (2016). George Hairston. Sea Power, 59(2), 52–53. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.csum.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=113234066&site=ehost-live
  8. Former Chief Engineer Arraigned on Charges Related to Vessel Pollution. (2007, August 24). PR Newswire (USA). Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/11B3D1BC48F53680.
  9. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (March 07, 2018) NOAA Ship Nancy Foster makes a historic visit to Cuba. Retrieved from https://www.omao.noaa.gov/find/media/articles/2016-05-17/noaa-ship-nancy-foster-makes-historic-visit-cuba
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