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Marine chief engineer

Also called chief ship engineer, maritime chief engineer, chief engineer of a ship

Marine chief engineers are responsible for the entire technical operations of the vessel including engineering, electrical, and mechanical divisions. They are the head of the entire engine department aboard the ship and have overall responsibility for all technical operations and equipment on-board the ship. Marine chief engineers collaborate on security, survival and health care on board and observe the national and international standards of application.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects27 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Ships' engineers · ILO

What you'd do

Ships' engineers · ILO
  • Controlling and participating in the operation, maintenance and repair of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment and machinery on board ship
  • Ordering fuel and other engine-room department stores and maintaining record of operations
  • Performing technical supervision of the installation, maintenance and repair of ship‚Äôs machinery and equipment to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations
  • Inspecting and conducting maintenance and emergency repairs to engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment
  • Standing engine room watch, monitoring and noting performance of engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment
Carry out navigational calculationsUse maritime EnglishMaintain vessel inventoryAnalyse work-related written reportsRepair vessel mechanical systems+ 9 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Marine Engineers and Naval Architects"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering associate professionals in the EU
7.4m7.3m7.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
142,000 new jobs 1,835,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering associate professionals27
All jobs29
Right now
5 of 27 countries report a shortage of ships' engineers, 4 a surplus.
Ships' engineers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in law is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 41%Vocational 43%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 9%
Fields that teach it
Law · Mechanics and metal trades
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.23 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Ordering fuel and other engine-room department stores and maintaining record of operations0.31
Performing technical supervision of the installation, maintenance and repair of ship’s machinery and equipment to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations0.24
Standing engine room watch, monitoring and noting performance of engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment0.23
Controlling and participating in the operation, maintenance and repair of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment and machinery on board ship0.20
Inspecting and conducting maintenance and emergency repairs to engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment0.17

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for ships' engineers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).