Advice from a Chief Engineer
What I Wish You Knew Before Entering the Engine Room
After years at sea, dozens of voyages, breakdowns, inspections, port state controls, and countless watches in the engine room, I have reached one conclusion: a good engineer is not judged only by knowledge, but by attitude.
If you are a cadet, 3rd Engineer, or 2nd Engineer, this article is not school theory. It is what we Chief Engineers see every day, and what separates those who will move forward from those who will remain stagnant.
1. The Engine Room Does Not Forgive Carelessness
The first and most important thing: the engine room is a living organism. It is not a place to “pass the time.” Anyone who enters with an office mentality will, sooner or later, be exposed.
I want to see an engineer who:
Observes sounds, smells, and vibrations
Understands when something “is not right”
Does not always wait for an order before checking
Attention to detail is what prevents major damage.
2. Do Not Try to Look Smart – Try to Be Reliable
One of the biggest mistakes young engineers make is the need to prove that they know everything. But on board, we do not care who is the smartest – we care who is reliable.
I prefer an engineer who:
Will ask if he is not sure
Will say “I do not know, but I will learn”
Will not take unnecessary risks
Mistakes from lack of knowledge are forgiven. Mistakes from ego are not.
3. Learn the “Why,” Not Only the “How”
Knowing how a job is done is the minimum. A good engineer knows why it is done that way.
When someone shows you:
A filter change
Pump maintenance
A starting procedure
Do not stop at the steps. Ask:
What will happen if we skip this?
What kind of damage does it prevent?
What symptoms show that something is going wrong?
That is what takes you to the next level.
4. Cleanliness Is a Sign of Professionalism
I know, it is not the most “heroic” part of the job. But listen carefully: a clean engine room means a properly run engine room.
Cleanliness:
Reveals leaks
Helps with equipment inspection
Shows discipline and respect
When I see an engineer who takes care of his workspace, I know he will also take care of the machinery.
5. Learn to Work in a Team
On a ship, nobody works alone. The engine room functions properly only when there is cooperation and communication.
What I expect from an engineer:
To report whatever he observes
Not to hide problems
To respect everyone, from the oiler to the Chief
A good engineer is not the one who does everything alone, but the one who helps the team function properly.
6. Mistakes Are Lessons – Repeating Them Is a Problem
Everyone makes mistakes. I did too. The real issue is what you do afterward.
If you make a mistake:
Take responsibility
Learn why it happened
Make sure it does not happen again
That shows maturity. Blaming others shows the opposite.
7. Respect Procedures and Safety
Regulations, checklists, and permits are not there to make our lives difficult. They exist because someone was injured or killed in the past.
Never underestimate:
Lock out / tag out
PPE
Safety briefings
A good engineer returns home safe. That is success.
8. Never Stop Learning
Technology changes. Engines change. Fuels change. If you stay still, the job will leave you behind.
Read:
Manuals
Bulletins
New regulations
The engineer who keeps growing stands out.
9. Character Matters as Much as Knowledge
At the end of the day, what remains is not only whether you knew the machinery, but whether we could rely on you.
I want an engineer who is:
Honest
Calm
Professional in behavior
Everything else can be taught.
10. Remember Why You Started
Life at sea is not easy. You will get tired, angry, and doubtful. In those moments, remember why you chose this path.
If you love machinery, the sea, and responsibility, then you are in the right profession.
In Closing
Good engineers stand out. And the engine room always remembers.
Merchant Marine Engineer Cadet: The First Time at Sea
The first time at sea is unlike anything you have experienced before. No matter how much you heard at school, how many videos you watched, or how many dreams you had, the reality of the ship hits you immediately. For a Merchant Marine Engineer Cadet, the first contract is not just a voyage; it is a test of character, endurance, and professional growth.
This article is for you who are preparing to board a ship for the first time. And for you who just returned and are still trying to put in order everything you lived through.
The Moment You Step on Board
You will remember it forever. Your bag is heavy, your mind full of thoughts, and there is a feeling that you are entering a completely different world. A ship is not a hotel, not a school, and certainly not land. It is a closed system operating 24 hours a day.
In the first hours you feel:
uncomfortable
lost
like an observer
And that is normal. No one expects you to know everything. But they do expect you to show willingness to learn.
The First Shock: The Engine Room
No matter how much you imagined it, the engine room in reality is something else. Noise, heat, smells, vibrations. Machines working nonstop. Piping everywhere. Panels, pumps, filters, valves.
At first:
you do not understand what does what
you do not know where to look
you are afraid of making a mistake
And again, that is normal. The engine room is not learned in one day. It is learned with time, observation, and patience.
The Daily Life of an Engineer Cadet
Life on board quickly develops a rhythm. Wake up, engine room, jobs, food, engine room again. There are no “easy” days at the beginning.
Usually you will:
assist in maintenance work
clean filters, pumps, and spaces
carry tools and spare parts
observe jobs without speaking too much
Some see it as hard labor. That is a mistake. This is your school. This is where you learn how a ship really works.
People and Hierarchies
On a ship, hierarchy is not theoretical. It is clear, and you must respect it. Chief Engineer, 2nd, 3rd, crew, oilers. Everyone has a role.
As a cadet:
speak with respect
listen more than you speak
do not try to prove that you already know
Trust is earned slowly. Once you show that you are serious, they will start explaining more to you.
The First Mistakes (and Why They Are Inevitable)
You will make mistakes. Everyone did. The point is not to avoid every mistake, but:
to admit them
to learn from them
not to repeat them
A forgotten tool, a wrong valve, a moment of carelessness. Small things that teach you discipline. The worst thing you can do is hide something.
Loneliness and Psychology
Nobody says it clearly, but the sea also tests your mind. Far from family, friends, and routines. The first nights feel strange. At some moments you will ask yourself:
“Did I make the right choice?”
That is normal. Give yourself time. Talk to colleagues, stay in touch with your loved ones, and build small routines. Adjustment comes.
What Makes a Good Cadet Stand Out
It is not knowledge. It is attitude.
The cadet who stands out is the one who:
arrives on time
asks when he does not know
shows interest
does not avoid the “dirty” jobs
The officers notice it. And they remember it.
Learn to Observe
If there is one secret for the first time at sea, it is this: observation.
Watch:
how the Chief Engineer speaks during a breakdown
how the team works
how they check before and after every job
These things are not written in books.
The First Time Ends, but It Changes You
When you step off the ship, you will not be the same person. You will have:
a different understanding of the job
greater respect for the profession
more confidence
The first time at sea makes you tougher, but it also builds you.
In Closing
The sea gives nothing for free. But it rewards those who respect it.
Why Is It So Difficult for Engineer Cadets to Find Work?
For many young people, finding the first job as an Engineer Cadet in the Merchant Navy is the hardest and most disappointing stage of their career. While maritime education promises professional opportunity and a stable career at sea, reality is often different. Unanswered phone calls, emails with no reply, and months of waiting create the obvious question: why do Engineer Cadets not find work easily?
The answer is not one single reason. It is a combination of factors, starting from the job market and reaching all the way to the preparation and attitude of the cadets themselves.
The first and most important reason is the large number of cadets compared to the available positions. In recent years, the Merchant Marine Academies have increased the number of students admitted. That means that every year far more cadets graduate than the market can immediately absorb. Cadet positions are not unlimited, as each ship can take only a certain number, and not on every voyage.
A second reason is that the cadet does not provide immediate productive work. From the company’s point of view, a cadet is mainly an investment, not a direct profit. He needs time, training, supervision, and patience from the officers. In periods when companies are under financial pressure or have shortages in senior ranks, they prefer to cover those needs first instead of taking cadets.
Another important reason is the lack of preparation of many cadets. Many young engineers finish school with theoretical knowledge but without a real understanding of what life and work on a ship actually mean. When a company realizes that a cadet is not psychologically ready or does not show willingness to learn, it hesitates to trust him, even if he has a good CV.
The image the cadet presents also plays a major role. A careless CV, an email without a serious tone, or a phone call without professionalism can close doors before they even open. Many candidates think that because they are cadets, they do not need to show professional behavior. That is wrong. For the company, the first contact is decisive.
Another reason is the lack of connections. Shipping, whether we like to admit it or not, often works through recommendations. A cadet who has no one to recommend him, whether a professor or someone at sea, starts with a disadvantage. That does not mean it is impossible to find work, but it usually requires more persistence and more time.
Also, many cadets have unrealistic demands. They want a specific ship type, a specific company, a specific salary, or short voyages. The truth is that on the first contract, the cadet does not choose. The first voyage is about experience, not comfort. Those who are more flexible clearly have more chances to get to sea.
We should also not ignore the fear of responsibility from the side of the companies. A cadet without experience can make mistakes. Some mistakes can be expensive or dangerous. So some companies prefer to take only cadets who have already completed one contract or who come with strong recommendations.
Another factor is the psychological instability shown by some young people. There are cases of cadets who disembark early, cannot handle the pressure, or create problems for the crew. These experiences make companies more cautious about giving opportunities to young people.
Even so, difficulty does not mean dead end. The cadets who finally find work have some common characteristics. They are persistent, they keep sending CVs, they follow job postings, they call companies, and they do not get discouraged easily. They show willingness to start from the bottom and learn.
In addition, those who prepare properly increase their chances. A clean and serious CV, basic English knowledge, familiarity with engineering terms, and an honest attitude make a difference. Companies do not expect ready-made engineers, but they do want people who can grow.
In conclusion, Engineer Cadets do not find work easily not because the profession has no future, but because the first door is always the hardest. The market is demanding, positions are limited, and mistakes are not easily forgiven. But whoever persists, adapts, and shows seriousness will sooner or later find his place at sea.
The first job is the hardest voyage. After that, the road opens.
Then the training of cadets should not be considered a cost, but an investment.
⚓ Modern shipping is not only about power and speed — it is also about responsibility toward the environment.
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