Engineering on the oceans

Engineering on the oceans

Shipbuilding has an archaic ring to it -- after all, it's a science that dates to the world's earliest civilizations. Building ships today, especially the large vessels used by governments and big businesses, involves some of the most advanced technology on earth. Marine engineers and naval architects oversee the creation of ships and other man-made systems designed for use in the water or on the shore, and for purposes as diverse as pleasure cruising, warfare, fishing and oil and gas drilling.

What they do:

Humankind can do amazing things in the water these days. We can launch planes from aircraft carriers. We can generate electricity from wind and waves, an emerging type of alternative energy that is sometimes used to power desalination plants and water pumps. And in the cold, murky depths once outside the reach of human exploration, we can send autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVS, thousands of feet below the surface. 

Naval architects and maritime engineers have contributed to these and many other technological advances. Naval architects design ships, barges, buoys and other floating vessels for a wide variety of uses. At the outset, they must consider basic requirements like size, speed and cargo capacity. When designing the hull, they must ensure proper buoyancy, stability and gravity. They also design the cabins, riggings and interior spaces, and oversee their construction.  

Marine engineers work with naval architects on ship design, providing expertise on power, propulsion and heating and cooling, among other systems. Their work is not limited only to ships; they also apply their skills to the design and building of oil rigs, undersea robots, naval weapons systems and other areas.

Both naval architects and maritime engineers employ scientific principles such as marine hydrodynamics and continuum mechanics, and they may need skill in areas such as robotics, statistics or materials engineering.

What they need:

Many universities offer programs in marine engineering and naval architecture, either as a stand-alone discipline or as part of a related engineering program (for example, marine engineering is part of the mechanical engineering department at MIT's Pratt School of Naval Architecture). Bachelor's degrees are generally sufficient for most jobs, except for advanced research and teaching positions.  

In general, engineers need to stay current on changing technology through continuing education and certification. In addition, all engineers who provide services directly to the public must be licensed by the states where they work.

What they earn:

According to CBSalary.com, marine engineers nationally earn an average $87,956, with the 25^th percentile at $64,578 and the 75^th percentile at $110,567. The national average salary for naval architects is similar: $85,793, with the 25^th percentile at $57,946 and the 75^th percentile at $107,734.

Job outlook:

Marine engineers and naval architects are a relatively small engineering specialty, holding about 8,500 jobs in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is projected to rise by 500 by 2018, a 6 percent increase.

That's slightly slower than the average for all occupations, which the BLS attributes to the decline in construction of big ships in this country. However, the agency also expects "good prospects" for naval architects and marine engineers thanks to strong demand for navy boats and recreational ships. Also, not many students pursue degrees in these fields, and workers in them will retire, creating openings for those hoping to break in.