Technical Personnel and Engine-Room Crew

The technical crew keeps the ship’s machinery and other technical systems operating. Their duties vary according to the system, level of responsibility and qualifications: the engine-room watch is a distinct safety-relevant duty, while electro-technical functions form a separate professional qualification group. The positions a ship fills depend on its organisation and the specific operation.

Engine room and propulsion systems

Technical officers take on positions of responsibility in the engine department; other crew members support operations and maintenance. The STCW Code sets out a separate competence standard for officers in charge of an engine-room watch. The required training and experience relate to the principles of keeping an engine-room watch. These include an orderly taking over and handing over of the watch, monitoring technical systems and maintaining engine-room records. The competence standard also covers safety and emergency procedures, such as immediate action in the event of a fire or accident. The distinction from the navigational watch on deck is reflected in the duties of the captain, deck officers and bridge team.

Technical duties also cover auxiliary systems. In addition to the main propulsion system, the STCW competence standard lists, for example, pumps, fresh-water generators, and refrigeration, air-conditioning and ventilation systems. Duties include preparing and operating the systems, identifying malfunctions and taking measures to prevent damage. The specific division of work varies according to the system, ship and watch organisation. A ship with a continuously manned engine room organises the watch differently from one with a periodically unmanned engine room, for which the Code provides for a designated technical officer. A job title alone therefore does not reveal the full scope of duties or the specific staffing arrangements.

Electrical and electro-technical functions

Electro-technical officers and electro-technical ratings are separate qualification groups under the international regulations. The IMO specifies distinct training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers and ratings. They are therefore not simply another name for the engine-room watch: both areas are part of the technical crew, but have different qualification profiles and areas of responsibility.

The areas of responsibility overlap: the competence standard for technical watchkeeping officers also covers electrical, electronic and control systems. The separate electro-technical qualification does not, therefore, mean that all work on machinery and electrical systems is strictly divided. What matters is the individual’s competence and the allocation of duties on board.

Training and qualifications

The international STCW Convention sets standards for the training, certification and watchkeeping of seafarers. Part A of the STCW Code contains mandatory minimum standards; Part B provides supplementary guidance. For engine-room watches, the Code specifies competence requirements based on the relevant function. Training and certification requirements are therefore not the same for all technical positions.

The international regulations describe the framework; they do not automatically determine an individual’s training path or the staffing of a particular ship. These depend on the flag State, the function and the specific job advertisement. The technical professions on board are best understood by looking at the respective areas of responsibility: engine-room watchkeeping, other engine-department functions and electro-technical qualifications are related, but not interchangeable.