Marine Engineering

Marine Engineering involves the design, construction, installation, operation and support of the systems and equipment which propel and control marine vehicles, and of the systems which make a vehicle or structure habitable for crew, passengers and cargo.
Marine Engineering is allied to mechanical engineering, although the modern marine engineer requires knowledge (and hands on experience) with electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, chemistry, cotrol engineering, naval architecture or ship design, process engineering,steam generations gas turbines and even nuclear technology on certain military vessels.
Marine Engineering on board a ship refers to the operation and maintenance of the propulsion and other systems such as: electrical power generation plant; lighting; air conditioning; refrigeration; and water systems on board the vessel. This work is carried out by Marine Engineering Officers, who usually train via cadetships sponsored by a variety of Maritime organisations.
Marine engineering also embraces other areas such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicle research; Marine renewable energy research; and careers related to the Offshore extractive and infrastructure (Cable Laying) industries.Marine Engineering emerged as a discipline with the arrival of Marine Engines for propulsion, largely during the latter half of the 19th century. Early marine engineers were known as "stokers" as they 'stoked' the coal fires of steam engined ships more or less from the middle of the 19th to the middle of the 20th centuries; the term is still used affectionately by modern ship's engineering staff to describe their role.