Mechanic decides to become Marine Engineer.....in Canada!...and has Questions

Professional Mariner Forum
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I have been searching around the archived posts, and recived LOTS of great information.
Not only that, this seems to be a collection of gentelmen with valuable information.

I have been turning a wrench for a living for 23 years, I have two mechanic certifications, have worked Big army equipment (my original apprenticship), Locomotives, heavy trucks and the such, and for the last 10 years boats. Boats range from alot of sailboats with 30hp engines, to small tugs and big yachts with engines of up to about 1000hp.

I am 42, and have decided to persue a carreer away from the dock.

I start my required MED’s next week and should be available to start building sea time sometime in April.

The areas i’m looking for input on are “Are there jobs in this field or am i starting something at a terrible time” : “how close is the licencing procdure for mariners in Canada, to the information I get here, in this Forum?” and lastly “if I start as an engineer am I handcuffed to engineering, or is it an easy transition to the Brige/Operations side of the industry”

Thanks, I thought I might as well put it out there all at once. Its tough to get feedback without asking the questions?!

2

[QUOTE=Craig;63997]I have been searching around the archived posts, and recived LOTS of great information.
Not only that, this seems to be a collection of gentelmen with valuable information.

I have been turning a wrench for a living for 23 years, I have two mechanic certifications, have worked Big army equipment (my original apprenticship), Locomotives, heavy trucks and the such, and for the last 10 years boats. Boats range from alot of sailboats with 30hp engines, to small tugs and big yachts with engines of up to about 1000hp.

I am 42, and have decided to persue a carreer away from the dock.

I start my required MED’s next week and should be available to start building sea time sometime in April.

The areas i’m looking for input on are “Are there jobs in this field or am i starting something at a terrible time” : “how close is the licencing procdure for mariners in Canada, to the information I get here, in this Forum?” and lastly “if I start as an engineer am I handcuffed to engineering, or is it an easy transition to the Brige/Operations side of the industry”

Thanks, I thought I might as well put it out there all at once. Its tough to get feedback without asking the questions?![/QUOTE]

Craig, I’m a retired Chief Engineer, Steam and Motor, Unlimited Horse Power, and I have a few thoughts for you. First, you may find this site has some information:

http://www.yachtcrew.ca/training.html

Second. you have an excellent track record as a mechanic and I feel you would fit right in aboard any vessel. As for your question “are there jobs.” yes, however not as many as I would like to see. The US Merchant Marine has just about disappeared, I’m talking deep draft sea going cargo ships. The US still has a Merchant Marine and, yes, there are employment opportunities. So as far as your comment “am I starting at a terrible time,” my reply has to be it depends upon you and your desire to obtain employment. If you really want to go to sea you will find a job.

Third, you question of being “handcuffed,” the answer is it depends. In the USA one is either Deck or Engine and to transfer from one to the other would require a suitable sailing time as unlicensed in the both departments or return to a Maritime School. Not that easy but doable. My suggestion, should you feel you would like to start a new career on Deck then give it a good thought, make-up your mind, and then go for it. You need to contact Canada’s Merchant Navy and inquire about the ability to transfer any Canadian License to the US Coast Guard issued License, or do you intend to sail on Canadian vessels?
Do not be concerned about your age, you have years of spunk remaining and with your attitude you will do just fine.

Wish I could be of more help.

3

Thanks Sweat-n-Grease
The more I search, the more I am finding newer techonolgy is allowing for less engineering crew on board. Like most machines, boats are becomming more reliable…Think of how many flat tires you have compared to the 70’s.
I plan on focusing on the deck in some capacity, I’m afraid someone is gonna see my resume and I’ll end up doing refits in the yard.

As for my age, thanks, but I still feel 14

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[QUOTE=Craig;64054]Thanks Sweat-n-Grease
The more I search, the more I am finding newer techonolgy is allowing for less engineering crew on board. Like most machines, boats are becomming more reliable…Think of how many flat tires you have compared to the 70’s.
I plan on focusing on the deck in some capacity, I’m afraid someone is gonna see my resume and I’ll end up doing refits in the yard.[/QUOTE]

You are correct. A year ago I advised a young man who was accepted into the US Merchant Marine Academy, he mentioned he’d like to go Deck but Engine would give him more opportunities. My reply, "well if you plan on not sailing I agree, there’s little work for a Mate on shore, not counting Port Captains but that’s hardly a position many can hope to have or want."
You have plenty years twisting wrenches, perhaps Deck will offer a different and happy career. As for me, I could easily take to both Deck and Engine, I picked Engine and stayed with it. I do know celestial navigation (I had Navy time) but I wouldn’t presume. I’d take an unlicense deck position and do it right, then go back to school, then and only then would I look for a Mate’s opening and sail. There is a quality I have, I always knew what I really was, a Merchant Seaman, so Deck would be just as rewarding as Engine - for me - not for everybody!

[QUOTE=Craig;64054]As for my age, thanks, but I still feel 14[/QUOTE]
and I thought I had spunk !! ~ :smiley:

5

Not sure if you’ve seen this sight, but it’s great for mariners, especially engineers, and is run by an engineer out of Canada:

http://www.dieselduck.net/

He also has a forum here: http://www.dieselduck.ca/forum/index.php

On the main site he has everything from detailed machine specific maintenance checklists to in depth info to becoming a credentialed mariner in Canada.

Hope this helps you out, and good luck!

Sent from my iPad using gCaptain

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[QUOTE=Craig;63997]I have been searching around the archived posts, and recived LOTS of great information.
Not only that, this seems to be a collection of gentelmen with valuable information.

I have been turning a wrench for a living for 23 years, I have two mechanic certifications, have worked Big army equipment (my original apprenticship), Locomotives, heavy trucks and the such, and for the last 10 years boats. Boats range from alot of sailboats with 30hp engines, to small tugs and big yachts with engines of up to about 1000hp.

I am 42, and have decided to persue a carreer away from the dock.

I start my required MED’s next week and should be available to start building sea time sometime in April.

The areas i’m looking for input on are “Are there jobs in this field or am i starting something at a terrible time” : “how close is the licencing procdure for mariners in Canada, to the information I get here, in this Forum?” and lastly “if I start as an engineer am I handcuffed to engineering, or is it an easy transition to the Brige/Operations side of the industry”

Thanks, I thought I might as well put it out there all at once. Its tough to get feedback without asking the questions?![/QUOTE]

There’s a lot of hoops to jump thru to get your docmentation to allow to you to sail but it’s just a matter of filling out the forms and paying some fees, to begin with. Check with Diesel Duck he’ll help you out with Canada.
Don’t worry about age. You are midlife with skills and experience, the hiring folks appreciate that kind of thing. You will not be handcuffed to engineering. Should you choose to go the deck route it is an easy transition all you have to do is; put down your wrenches, put on your dress and walk up the ladder.
Good luck to you
tengineer

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I second K.S. on the diesel duck, click on the training tab there and read about the “Long Road”. There just aren’t a whole lot of engineers around this forum, especially those that know much about the Canadian laws. I know in Canada they will take sea time for college accredited courses such as applied mechanics, electrotechnology, naval architechture, etc, that can count for a whole lot towards your license.

I think you’re pretty lucky you’re from Canada trying to pursue this, they are light years ahead of the Coast Guard in creating a system for the hawsepiper to become an engineer. This website has the Canadian regulations to become a Fourth Class Engineer http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-archive-tp2293-menu-3134.htm

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the more I am finding newer techonolgy is allowing for less engineering crew on board

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Yeah, but it depends on the route the company wants to take with its maintenance. Until we have robots that can fix everything for us, more and more work with all of the new technology needs to be done. Most companies will start to realize that it is much cheaper to have capable engineers on board than to outsource the work, fly specialists to the vessel, or ship parts for rebuild, especially on ships that do not land in port very often. I’ve heard of some companies where if a pump goes bad, the engineers simply shut the valves, unbolt it, put a spare in, then send the bad one to shore for rebuild. That isn’t technology hurting us, its short-sightedness from the companies.

The place where technology is changing the game is in watch standing. The manning requirements are set up by how many people you need on a watch, not how many people are needed to maintain the vessel.