Duties Of Engine Cadet In Merchant Navy

The position of an Engine Cadet in the merchant navy paves the way to become a marine engineer. It is a vital first step for anyone wanting to begin a successful career in the engine department of a ship. An Engine Cadet receives practical training on how to work in the engine room under the supervision and guidance of senior engineers, grasping all that is required to maintain and operate the machinery which keeps a vessel functioning at sea.

In this article, I will discuss how one can become an Engine Cadet, what the duties of an engine cadet are in the merchant navy, and what the salary structure is like.

What is an Engine Cadet in the Merchant Navy?

An engine cadet is a trainee engineer working under the 2nd engineer on a ship. He or he does not have any specific responsibilities, but they are expected to absorb all that the seniors teach, regarding the working of the ship’s machinery.

Duties of an engine cadet mainly include assisting the senior engineers with operations, maintenance and repair of the engine room machinery, performing routine checks, monitoring the equipment, ensuring safety compliance, participating in drills, recording and updating all the activities in logbooks while studying and developing skills to climb the ladder to officer positions.

Before delving deeper into the role and responsibilities of the engine cadet in the merchant navy, let us look at the various paths one can take to become an engine cadet.

How To Become An Engine Cadet in the Merchant Navy?

Internationally, you can become an engine cadet if you have an educational background in engineering, such as marine, mechanical or electrical engineering or a diploma. Every college has a specific eligibility criterion. You also need to complete the
STCW Basic Safety Training, which covers firefighting, first aid, and survival at sea.

After completing the studies, you can join a ship to complete your sea service, where you put your theoretical knowledge into practice before qualifying for your Certificate of Competency (CoC).

In India, one can become an engine cadet after completing class 12th (with physics, chemistry and maths as compulsory subjects), after doing mechanical engineering or after completing a diploma in marine engineering.

In the first case, you need to clear Class 12th from a recognised board with a minimum of 60% in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, as this is the requirement by most maritime colleges and companies.

After this, you must apply for and clear the IMU CET examination, held annually. You will get a seat based on your rank. There are 3 rounds of counselling, in which students can apply to get a college they want, depending on the rank they secure in the exam.

Students can go for document verification once a college is allotted to them. A few colleges, such as Tolani Maritime Institute and others, conduct their own exam to select candidates for courses like B.Tech Marine Engineering.

In the 3rd year of marine engineering, shipping companies visit colleges offering placements. Students apply to receive sponsorship, which is important before starting sea time.

Sponsorships ensure that students can get job placement for onboard training.

To select the best candidates, companies conduct entrance exams, interviews and medical fitness tests. If a student clears all three stages, they will receive a sponsorship letter stating that they have secured a job at the particular company after completing the B.Tech Marine Engineering program.

After completion of the B.Tech Marine Engineering degree or once a student is in the last semester of Marine Engineering, they need to apply for the following Basic STCW Courses, without which they cannot be a part of any vessel as an Engine Cadet.

• Basic Safety Training Course
• STSDSD Course
• Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operation
• Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operation

Students doing B. Tech Marine Engineering can also become an engine cadet with Graduate Marine Engineering (GME).

Students with over 50% aggregate marks in B.Tech Marine Engineering can apply for the one-year GME Course, after which they can work on a ship as an engine cadet.

After clearing the mechanical engineering, apply to the college and company for sponsorship, which will act as evidence that after passing the one-year GME, you will be given a job in that shipping company.

As the job is given based on performance in the written exam and interview, students need to prepare for questions on aptitude, reasoning and English, apart from what they have already studied in their degree courses.

Once a student gets the sponsorship, they must go to a DG Approved Doctor for a medical examination.

Duties of an Engine Cadet

An engine cadet is not directly accountable for any operation on the ship; he or she is expected to learn many things from seniors and on their own while working onboard.

The following can be called the duties of an engine cadet in the merchant navy.

1. Assisting In Engine Room Watchkeeping

An engine cadet is expected to assist the duty engineer in engine room watches, in which they are responsible for checking that the ship’s engine and other machinery are working properly.

They also have to take accurate readings of pressure, temperature and fuel levels. Engine Cadet must report any unusual smell, noise or issue to the seniors immediately and take regular rounds of the engine room while inspecting machinery, checking for leaks, oil levels and ensuring everything is working as it should.

2. Assisting in Basic Engine Room Maintenance

Engine Cadets should help in cleaning strainers and filters, changing parts such as gaskets and also help senior engineers during major repair work.

3. Management of oil and fuel systems

Engine Cadets have to check the levels of lubricating oil, fuel oil, and also cooling water in the tanks and machines.

3. Learn to operate other vital systems

Engine Cadets learn to operate and clean air compressors, pumps, sewage treatment plants, purifiers and other machines under the guidance of senior engineers.

4. Keeping and Updating Records

Engine Cadets are expected to correctly fill the logbooks, recording all engine room activities and tasks, which helps track the performance of the engine room machinery.

5. Participation in Safety Drills

Engine Cadets are expected to attend all safety drills, including fire safety drills, abandon ship drills and oil spill drills, where they also learn how to use life jackets, breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers.

6. Complete the Training Record Book

An engine cadet has to complete a training record book when on board. The book has all the tasks you need to learn, and then you must get it signed by the senior engineers. It comes in handy for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) exams later.

What Skills Should An Engine Cadet Possess?

Working on a ship is extremely dangerous, and one mistake can cost even a life or millions to billions in losses. Hence, the most important quality a cadet must have is being vigilant at all times. Being observant, careful and thinking critically is important.

Apart from this, good communication skills, teamwork, discipline, physical and mental fitness are also needed if one wants to have a long career at sea.

The engine room can get hot and noisy, so an engine cadet needs to be ready to put in the hard work and remain calm even in unfavourable conditions.

Engine Cadets can work on ships like tankers, bulk carriers, passenger ships, cruise ships, etc. Each vessel offers a slightly different learning experience.

For instance, tankers have a specialised cargo pump system, while cruise ships have a hotel-type HVAC and electrical systems.

Salary of an Engine Cadet in the Merchant Navy

The pay of an engine cadet ranges from 500 to 1000 U.S dollars, but it also depends on the type of ship, as tankers or LNG vessels pay more, since they carry dangerous cargo which needs specialised training and certifications.

Those engine cadets working on bulk carriers or general cargo ships can expect something between 500 and 800 U.S dollars monthly, but those working on specialised vessels can earn between 700 and 1000 U.S. dollars, as the nature of work is different.

Foreign-flagged ships and major shipping companies offer handsome pay.

After cadetship, one can become a junior engineer, with an increase in salary to around 2000 to 4000 U.S dollars per month.

In the merchant navy, becoming a cadet is the first step with a low-pay; however, as one clears more examinations, acquires experience and certifications, the salary growth is rapid with significant tax advantages.

Conclusion

Starting a maritime career as an engine cadet can be challenging at first, since there is too much to learn, however, if you are passionate about ship machinery, have great reasoning and problem-solving skills, love adventure, travel and change, then this is the ideal career for you, which will pave the way for promotion to the rank of the Fourth Engineer, then the Third Engineer, Second Engineer and finally the Chief Engineer.

The higher your rank, the more responsibilities you have, but you also get more exposure and increased salary benefits.

You might also like to read-

• 7 Jobs Junior Engineers And Engine Cadets Hate Doing On Board Ships
• 7 Reasons Deck Cadets and Junior Engineers are Not Getting Jobs
• Duties of The 2nd Engineer In The Merchant Navy
• How to Become a Marine Engineer?

About Author

Zahra is an SEO-Strategist & a Technical Writer with over 5 years of experience crafting top-tier content for the shipping world. From news, articles, ebooks, blogs and marketing pieces to industry white papers, she has written it all and now brings that experience to her role as Senior Editor. She makes complex maritime stories clear, sharp, and engaging.

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