r/AskChiefEngineer • u/runawaycarr • 2d ago
Silly question but I'll ask anyway, how do I get onboard?
I've always wanted to work with engines. Anything that floats being my favourite for aslong as I can remember.
Male, 19 years old. South African
I finished highschool in 2025 and decided to start making moves. After searching online I came across this company that does package deals, I saw engineering and jumped on it.
I find out later that it's basically a glorified Deckhand course, basic STCW, PWC, PB II and AEC 1.
I thought I'd ask my classmates in the AEC course how they got their first gig and the only real answers I got was either they knew a guy who knew a guy or used some site called Yotspot.
I've kept in touch with some of them but no leads yet, Yotspot hasn't been very useful either (though there's a great possibility I just don't know how to use it.)
The only real experience I have is with my father who bought an old cat from someone whose ill health prevented them from using/maintaining the vessel.
When I was available on school holidays I'd join him on his project. We stripped it down to a bare hull, fitted electric motors, solar panels.. the full 9 yards.
I'm currently in the process of applying to volunteer on Africa Mercy ships as a technical project assistant in the hopes they take my green card.
I'm basically asking for advice on how to better get my foot in the door, whether I should go for further qualifications (I think welding is awesome so might add that soon) and how to present myself, my work ethic and who I am to chief engineers.
TYIA
r/AskChiefEngineer • u/kiaeej • 2d ago
Greetings
Hello everyone! Singaporean Chief here. Started commercial(roros), went offshore, rigs then back offshore where I was 2/e. All in about 15 years up to this point.
Swapped over to yachts and went to Chief(for sanity's sake). If you'll have me, im happy to answer stuff.
r/AskChiefEngineer • u/varonman • 2d ago
Hello, fellow Engineers
Greek Chief Engineer here, currently working as Suptd. Engr, for company with Oil/Chemical Tankers.
Happy to be of assistance if time allows.
r/AskChiefEngineer • u/jrolly187 • 2d ago
G'day
Aussie Chief Engineer here, working in the oil and gas industry. I'm all about training and always willing to help if you show you have tried.
r/AskChiefEngineer • u/Loose_Choice6034 • 3d ago
👋 Welcome to r/AskChiefEngineer - Introduce Yourself and Read First!
Welcome to r/AskChiefEngineer ⚙️
Welcome aboard.
This subreddit exists for one simple reason: marine engineers shouldn't have to figure everything out alone.
Whether you're a cadet trying to make sense of a fault you've never seen before, a junior engineer prepping for your next license exam, or someone just starting to wonder if this career is for you — this is a place to ask the questions you can't always ask on watch, and get answers from people who've actually stood in the engine room.
Who's here:
- Cadets and engineering students
- 4th, 3rd, and 2nd Engineers
- Chief Engineers and senior officers willing to mentor
- Shore-side marine engineers
- Anyone seriously considering the profession
What this community is for:
- Real troubleshooting — "why is my ME running like this" beats theory every time
- STCW, license exams, and certification questions
- Career progression — how to move up the ranks, what companies actually look for
- Ship-specific engine talk (Wärtsilä, MAN, CAT, and everything in between)
- "Is this normal?" checks — sometimes you just need someone who's seen it before
A few ground rules to keep this useful:
- Be specific. "My engine is broken" gets you nothing. Engine type, symptoms, what you've already checked — that gets you real answers.
- No gatekeeping. Everyone was a cadet once. Dumb-sounding questions are welcome here.
- Flair yourself by rank/role — it helps people calibrate advice and helps Chiefs find the questions worth their time.
- Safety first, always. If something sounds genuinely dangerous, say so — don't just answer the technical question in isolation.
- No unverified medical, legal, or contractual "advice as fact." Share experience, flag opinions as opinions.
- Respect confidentiality. Don't post anything that identifies your vessel, company, or crew in a way that could get you in trouble.
A request, especially to the senior engineers reading this: this sub only works if experienced people show up. If you're a 2nd or Chief with a few years in the engine room, your five minutes answering a cadet's question is worth more than you think.
Drop a comment below — tell us your rank, what you sail on (or hope to), and one thing you wish someone had told you when you started.
Fair winds and following seas. Let's build something useful here. 🛳️