The life of a Marine Engineer is amazing. They see places, travel around the world, earn more money, make new friends, etc. etc…. But Wait! Wait! Wait! Lets come to basics
People know very less about Marine Engineers and their lives. One of the rumors being they have to serve 6 months on-board followed by a leave of 6 months. That’s actually not true. It solely depends on the nature of engagement and contract between you and your company.
Let’s come to the harsh realty of troubleshooting. Nothing makes you happier when you find a problem and fix it. But then with limited resources, less time and manpower on board, it is challenging.
The engine room temperature is more than 40 degree Celsius.
The Sea is not always calm. You might feel sea-sick. I faced rolling up to 30 degrees and trust me that was a routine for us.
The cost of making phone calls from ship’s satellite phone was USD19 for 15 min’s.
But yes, there are some advantages being a Marine Engineer
You get to work with people from different countries, cultures, races, background and it makes you learn about many a things about the world and it’s versatility.
A Marine Engineer certificate is accepted universally and the job prospects are relatively wider than you can even imagine.
Marine engineering makes you confident. Confident enough to face any challenges, be it onboard or at home.
I have spend more than 6 years working as a Marine Engineer. Most of my time was spent on large container ships. During this time, I have experienced good times such as Travelling around, Dry docking, Commissioning new ships and Enjoying Sundays with crew. I have also seen some bad times like Pirate encounters in Indian Ocean, injured crew member, fire in engine room, sleepless nights during bad weather conditions, etc.
The life is good and not as bad as it seems. Remember we are humans, the most adaptable creature on the planet. Once you are into it, you will be through it as well. All you have to do is to push your limits, try and rise.
