To me the whole divide thing is basically instilled in the whole traditional makeup of deck officers and engineering officers. At the officer level everyone should be cross trained. In reality there should be ships officers , not deck officers , nor engineering officers, just vessel officers . A mat…

[image] How to fix the Eng / Deck Divide Just as long as you remember it’s my boat and you’re just the driver… To quote Oddball in Kelly’s Heroes, “I just drive em man… I dunno what makes em go.”

Lotta wisdom from Oddball. https://youtu.be/54oqYyy_r_Q

It was tried by the Germans and the French. A friend and shipmate went through the German system after training at Flensburg. He sailed briefly in junior ranks as a deck officer and sailed with me as a very competent chief engineer. There was no way he wished to sail at a higher rank in the deck d…

‘Combined Tickets’. Apparently had to have 2 phones in your cabin; you got to decide which one took priority when the shit hit the fan.

[image] subsailor: A mate should know how to do everything an AE knows how to do and vice a versa. But to get people to do that you have to stick them in a long skinny tube and sink it. :wink:

I’ve always found that all the Engineers I’ve worked with had no desire to work in the wheelhouse. Being hot, dirty, and actively fixing things is what made them happy(maybe not happy, less jaded). And, they knew it deep down. The little bit of wheelhouse work I’ve done I’ve found exceedingly boring…

That is exactly why when I left the navy I chose tankers. It was a long fat tube that didn’t sink and it was simplicity itself. Once immersed in the Merchant Navy ethos I moved on.

[image] subsailor: A mate should know how to do everything an AE knows how to do and vice a versa. Subs huh? Clearly you’re not an engineer. I would suspect you’re not Deep Sea either. 20+ years Retired Military? I’ve sailed a long time. I have met some very impressive people, Deck and Engin…

Actually yes an engineer. Sub Nuclear MM 1980-86. Worked small power plants 33MW for a bit. Worked Gov contracts MSC and NOAA as CE on diesel electric vessels. Went around the world a few times with those groups. Worked Alaska ferries last of career. Total time as a CE on mostly low end contracts a…

[image] subsailor: Sub Nuclear MM 1980-86. @Cheng anybody who has his dolphins (qualified in submarines) has cross-training in his bones.

How to fix the Eng / Deck Divide part 2

Professional Mariner Forum

jbtam99 January 9, 2026, 1:12pm 2

To quote Oddball in Kelly’s Heroes, “I just drive em man… I dunno what makes em go.”

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How to fix the Eng / Deck Divide part 2

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