Engineering a change
Savannah Roop will soon return to her volunteer work as an engineer on a medical ship.
Why Study Marine Engineering at NMIT?
Seafaring is part of the narrative of humanity. Whether your ancestors turned up in a waka or a three masted ship, they arrived from the ocean determined to live, prosper, provide for their people, and trade between nations.
Trade is fuel for the maritime industry
The entire world relies on seafaring activities for food and to move goods around the seas and oceans between nations and continents. As well as food and produce, seafarers move essentials such as fuel, vehicles, materials and hardware, oil and gas, and passengers… the list is endless.
Each year almost 10 billion metric tonnes of stuff travels from harbour to harbour for people to use, so they can make the world a better place to live. It happens thousands of times a day, on tens of thousands of vessels around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Who keeps all that stuff moving?
Seafarers. And all seafarers - no matter what their job - all depend on Marine Engineers.
Fishing vessels, container ships, service vessels, survey vessels, salvage vessels, barges, superyachts, powerboats, harbour tugs, pilot vessels and more. All these vessels need engineers to look after them, whether at sea or at port. The Marine Engineer operates and maintains all the equipment and systems onboard to keep the crew and the environment safe.
Six reasons why you should study marine engineering at NMIT
1. Plenty of marine engineer jobs available
Marine engineers are in hot demand. Why? Vessels are more sophisticated than ever. For everything to run well, the maritime industry relies on Marine Engineers. This also includes pleasure boat owners who are spending big money and also need their investments protected. New technologies create great learning opportunities and Marine Engineers who are well trained and understand how to learn systems are essential.
2. Marine engineering skills are transferable
Good marine engineers transfer between ocean and shore-based support tasks. The skills you will amass during your career and your training may enable you to work in:
- Vessel management
- Vessel and equipment maintenance and upgrades
- Ship services such as ship agents, ship chandleries, specialist operations
- Research, design, and development
- New vessel constructions and boat building
- Computer management of assets
- Steam plant operations
- Classic vessels restoration and more.
The more skills you learn and have to offer the industry, the more income options you have.
3. Marine engineering is lucrative
A marine engineering salary can be lucrative and lead to many other careers. The average salary is $117,916 yearly according to international research firm Payscale.(external link)
4. Enjoy more time off as a marine engineer
Onshore/offshore rotations allow quality time for family and other interests. With a job earning good money for working a few weeks on, you get time to relax with a few weeks off.
5. Our entry level study options include marine engineering apprenticeships
The Certificate in Marine Engineering Class 6 is a great entry level programme. The Class 6 is a 45 credit certificate programme with an optional 45 credit endorsement in Marine Engineering Class 5. You only need 200 hours of seatime to apply. We can advise about this. You can read about the all requirements(external link) from Maritime New Zealand, with guidance for MEC6. The Marine Engineering Class 6 and Class 5 is a significant stepping stone toward a worthwhile career.
6. Your NMIT qualification is world renowned
New Zealand has a very good reputation worldwide for maritime engineering training. For example, the Marine Engineer Class 5 license (MEC5) is internationally recognised. NZ qualified Marine Engineers who do choose to work overseas are respected for their training and skills. Producing a high standard of work and maintaining a positive attitude are sought after qualities in the maritime industry, and many other industries around the world.
