Ship engineers operate engines and other equipment on many types of ships.
The Queen Mary 2 was launched January, 2004, to much fanfare. The luxury cruise ship boasts a spa, several gourmet restaurants, and even a planetarium. Its gross weight is 150,000 tons, and it is over 1,000 feet long. Well over 1,200 crew members work on the ship to keep it running. This number includes ship engineers, who monitor the gas turbine/diesel electric plant that gives the ship its power.
Ship engineers operate and maintain propulsion engines. They also run boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. A typical deep-sea merchant ship has four engineering officers. These include a chief engineer and a first, second, and third assistant engineer. The size and service of the ship determine the number of the crew for a voyage. Some vessels have only one engineer. Small vessels taking short voyages may not have an engineer at all.
Ship engineers regulate the engines to control the speed of the ship. They keep records of what they do in engineering logs. For example, they note changes in the ship's speed and direction. Assistant engineers stand periodic watches. They oversee the safe operation of the engines and machinery. If there are any abnormalities, they immediately report them. They often test machinery and equipment to make sure everything is running properly.
Ship engineers inspect and maintain the engines and other equipment. They order spare parts and oil as well as maintain inventories so that they can keep the ship running. They repair machinery using hand or power tools. They may also direct qualified members of the engine department (QMEDs) to repair or replace defective parts. QMEDs work in the engine spaces below the decks, under the direction of the ship's engineering officers. They also may operate pumps and valves.