Duties of Motorman On A Ship

The role of an oiler or motorman on a ship is vital, as the person holding this position is responsible for the maintenance of the engine room machinery. For a ship to operate efficiently and safely, all its systems must be properly maintained, cleaned, and taken care of every single day to avoid the buildup of dust, dirt, grease or prevent the lack of lubrication.

Duties of a Motorman or Oiler on a Ship

A motorman or oiler in the merchant navy has several duties and responsibilities, including-

• Ensuring the engine room is neat and the equipment is working properly.
• Inspecting the machinery regularly for any faults or repairs.
• Keeping a record of the work done and reporting the findings to the duty engineer.
• Properly oiling or greasing the equipment to enable smooth operations.
• Complete all the repair and maintenance work within a given time frame.
• Verify that all the maintenance operations are conducted safely.
• Ordering tools, replacing parts as needed and keeping a record of the same.
• Handle Garbage in the engine room, per the procedures.
• Responsible for housekeeping in engine workshops, stores and lockers.
• Assist in mooring/unmooring if needed.
• Help duty engineers with watchkeeping duties.

An oiler seaman’s role becomes even more significant on a UMS (unmanned machinery spaces) ship at sea since there is nobody to monitor the engine room. Hence, the motorman has to be vigilant.

In case of emergencies such as equipment failure, flooding or fire, oilers have emergency response responsibility and are a part of the emergency response team. They have to check the equipment, detect the fault, and ensure the safety of the vessel and other crew members.

Technological advancements are changing the landscape of the maritime sector as the engine room, once equipped with mechanical machines, is now more sophisticated, automated and digitised.

While engineers have to learn and adapt to these changes, oilers or motormen also need to evolve and grasp these new technologies to improve their efficiency.

Working Hours of a Motorman in the Merchant Navy

An oiler or motorman in the merchant navy is involved in heavy and labourious work. The working environment is challenging, with exposure to heat and noise. Sometimes, the tasks could get unpleasant, for instance, if there is a leakage in a fuel tank. However, this work is important for the safe operation of a ship, making the role of a motorman quite significant.

The typical work hours range from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. and from 11:00 pm to 12:00 am for a safety inspection of the engine room.

When the ship is at port, the shifts change to 4 hours and 8 hours off, with an additional 4 hours of overtime during the day.

How To Become A Motorman In the Merchant Navy?

To work as a motorman/oiler on a merchant vessel, one must have basic training and certification.

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) provides the requirements, which can be supplemented with extra ship-specific STCW courses, like a tanker safety course.

The STCW covers aspects including personal safety, first aid, fire prevention and firefighting, and personal survival techniques.

Additionally, depending on the ship type and the requirements of a shipping company, additional engine-related certifications may also be needed.

There are different types of ships, including cargo ships, tankers, bulk carriers, and cruise ships, and each requires specific training and certifications.

These certifications enhance a person’s skills and also increase their chances of securing a better package in the maritime industry.

How To Start A Career As An Oiler/Motorman On a Ship

Working as a wiper is the first step to becoming an oiler in the merchant navy. This entry-level position in the engine department requires atleast 12 months at sea to gain experience and understand the functioning of the onboard machinery and ship operations in general.

A wiper is a junior engine rating and usually cleans the engine spaces and machinery of a ship. He or she also helps the ship’s engineers when needed.

Once you have sufficient sea time and experience, you can become an oiler after passing an internal exam and getting approval from the ship’s chief engineer or the maritime authority of your country.

The above-mentioned steps are the general guidelines and may differ depending on your country’s maritime regulations, the shipping company and the requirements of a particular ship you plan to work on.

After an oiler has completed 36 months at sea, with 12 of those months under an approved training program, he or she can step up to the position of a 4th or 3rd Engineer.

However, this involves a lot of studying and passing several written exams, testing your knowledge of marine engineering, physics, maths, etc.

Skills Needed To Become a Motorman

Technical Knowledge & Expertise

A motorman or oiler must understand the functioning and maintenance of different types of marine machinery. This involves understanding several technical components, such as engines, purifiers, generator systems, etc. Basic knowledge of electrical systems and instrumentation is also important, as these are integral parts of the machine systems.

Physical Fitness

A motorman must be physically fit and have good health as he sometimes needs to climb ladders, bend in uncomfortable spaces for work, lift heavy equipment and work in confined spaces.

Good Communication

Interpersonal skills are important, and an oiler has to work in coordination with the engineers and fitters. In a high-stress environment, especially in the case of emergencies, a motorman or oiler has to effectively communicate with the other team members.

Problem-solving skills

An oiler just doesn’t have to follow orders but also find solutions, troubleshoot issues with machines, whether it’s about overheating, lack of lubrication or anything else which requires a rational approach and great problem-solving skills.

Salary of a Motorman

The salary of an oiler or motorman depends on the shipping company that they are sailing with, and also the type of ship. Also, ownership companies usually pay higher salaries to their employees than Ship Management Companies. An oiler gets paid between 1200 to over 4000 dollars per month.

Conclusion

Though an engine room on a ship has become more automated with AI systems keeping a track of all the functions, human intervention is always required. Hence, the role of a motorman or oiler remains important to find issues, troubleshoot problems and ensure safe onboard operations.

You might also like to read-

• What Is GP Rating In Merchant Navy?
• What is the Work of Merchant Navy?
• Duties of the 3rd Engineer On Ship
• 13 Best Practices For Ship’s Junior Engineers On Their First Voyage

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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