How to become
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
You can enter the Merchant Navy as an engine room rating. You will do a Maritime Mechanical and Electrical Mechanic Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This normally takes around 2 years to complete.
You'll find shipping companies that offer engine room rating apprenticeships through Careers at Sea.
You can apply for funding to take further training to qualify as an engineering officer after completing your apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
Direct Application
You can apply to sponsoring shipping or engineering companies to train as an engineering officer.
You'll start on a marine engineering cadetship, which combines classroom study with training at sea. You would work towards a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in marine or mechanical engineering.
Your training will also include the Certificate of Competency, which you need to work at sea.
Your teaching and living costs will be funded through a bursary and while you're on placement at sea you'll get paid.
You'll normally need:
- GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English, maths, and a science, preferably physics
- 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications, depending on the level of training you start on
If you've worked as a mechanical engineer elsewhere, for example in the fishing industry or the Royal Navy, you may be exempt from some of the training to become an engineer. You'll still need to find a company to sponsor you.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a Merchant Navy engineering officer from Careers at Sea and Merchant Navy Training Board.