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Article: Marine Engineering

Dalton Keen and Kevin Petersen Marine Engineering

Marine engineering is a combination of several different engineering disciplines focused towards the design, construction, and maintenance of seagoing vessels. Marine Engineers and Naval Architects are similar professions. However, whereas Naval Architects are concerned with the overall design of the ship and it's propulsion through the water, Marine Engineers are focused towards the main propulsion plant, the powering and mechanization aspects of the ship functions such as steering, anchoring, cargo handling, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical power generation and distribution, interior and exterior communication, and other related requirements. In some cases, the responsibilities of each industry collide and is not specific to either field. Propellers are examples of one of these types of responsibilities. For naval architects a propeller is a hydrodynamic device. For marine engineers a propeller acts similarly to a pump. Hull vibration, excited by the propeller, is another such area. Noise reduction and shock hardening must be the joint responsibility of both the naval architect and the marine engineer. In fact, most issues caused by machinery are responsibilities in general.

Education:
Marine Engineers generally have a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, marine engineering technology, or marine systems engineering. Practical training is valued by employers alongside the bachelor’s degree. maritime universities are dedicated to teaching and training students in maritime professions.

History of Marine Engineering:
The history of Marine Engineering dates back to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (early 1700s). In 1712 Thomas Newcomen, a blacksmith, created a steam powered engine to pump water out of mines. In 1807 Robert Fulton successfully used a steam engine to propel a vessel through the water. Fulton's ship used the engine to power a small wooden paddle wheel as its propulsion system. The integration of steam engines into ships was the start of the Marine Engineering profession.

Before the integration of engines in ships, the maritime professions consisted of deck department jobs. This was because there was no engine for engineers to work on. The type of propulsion used before the engine powered paddlewheel was wind power.

Paddle wheel ships were the front runner of the industry for the next 30 years till the next type of propulsion came around. Only twelve years after Fulton’s Clermont had her first voyage, the Savannah marked the first sea voyage from America to Europe. Around 50 years later the steam powered paddle wheels had a peak with the creation of the Great Eastern, which was as big as one of the cargo ships of today, 700 feet in length, weighing 22,000 tons. The Great Eastern was said to be ahead of it’s time and was destined for failure. Since the 1800's there have been many improvements to the design of engines and propellers. The maritime industry still holds 90% of all international trade.

Marine Engineers work on more than just engines in ships. Marine engineers are also responsible for building and maintaining offshore oil rigs. These oil rigs were first made by Henry L. Williams in 1896.

Unions
There are many different types of unions in the maritime industry. Some Unions are specifically for Marine Engineers, where some are for the maritime industry as a whole.


 * Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A) is the longest lasting maritime trade union to date. MEBA was founded in 1875. It's main represented group are licensed maritime officers in both the deck and engine department.


 * SNAME The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) is a worldwide society that is focused on the advancement of the maritime industry. The society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering was founded in 1893.


 * American Maritime officers (AMO) is the largest union for American maritime officers.

Other Information
“To work as a marine engineer, you need a detailed technical knowledge of naval construction, and mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems. Depending on the industry you work in, your duties could include: • shipbuilding, boat-building and repair – working on the design, development, construction and maintenance of ships, boats and machinery • working in the leisure boat industry, manufacturing, maintaining or repairing a range of craft from canal barges to super yachts • offshore oil and gas – designing, building and operating offshore platforms, rigs, pipelines and equipment • marine surveying – examining ships and offshore installations, looking at their seaworthiness, safety and maintenance needs

Marine engineering and naval architecture: 2012 Mean hourly wage: $46.22 Mean annual wage: $96,140 Median hourly: $42.36 Median annual: $88,100 Entry level education: Bachelor’s degree