Is becoming a ship engineer right for me?
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How to become a Ship Engineer
Ship engineers need a technical degree in engineering before they can practice their profession. During college, they learn advanced physics, mathematics, chemistry, construction and repair subjects, engine design and other technical subjects that make them proficient and comfortable with making quick decisions regarding a ship's technical operation. They also learn special engineering that is applied specifically to ships and other naval vessels. Ship engineers also may require a master's degree in a specific field of naval engineering, which allows them to achieve in-depth knowledge about particular areas of a ships' operation.
Ship engineers are usually people who are very detail oriented and have excellent problem-solving and leadership abilities. There is no time nor space for uncertainty, presumptions and debates aboard a ship that has a malfunction, and this is when ship engineers step in to coordinate and supervise quick and effective repair and maintenance processes by guiding and motivating the technical crew.
Ship engineers must also have a broad view of the big picture about a ship's current technical condition unlike crew members who are usually in charge of a specific part or department on a ship. People who aspire to become ship engineers need to have physical endurance, be emotionally stable and have excellent communication skills. They also need to be able to overcome frustration caused by failure and be resilient in their job. Future ship engineers need to learn how to mediate conflicts between technical crew members and act quickly in cases when resources are scarce and large-scale repairs are temporarily impossible to execute.