Harbor engineers design, install, and maintain machinery and equipment for marine vessels. They coordinate maintenance schedules, investigate failures, test equipment, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain records. The job requires mechanical skills, engineering knowledge, and management skills.
A harbor engineer usually holds a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering and will work to design, install and maintain machinery, equipment and power supply systems for marine vessels. The primary responsibility is to keep shipping fleets in top working condition, which requires attention to detail and extensive knowledge of ships and other ocean-going vessels. Responsibilities also include inventorying and ordering parts, planning and implementing safety standards, maintaining maintenance schedules, and ensuring timely and cost-effective repairs. Working as a port engineer can require long hours, travel and last minute changes to work schedules, reflecting the inherent nature of the job. Other job expectations include restricted work environments, indoors and out, as well as risk of physical injury and sometimes the ability to handle heights.
Responsible for the maintenance and repair of marine vessels, a harbor engineer needs to coordinate timely maintenance schedules for all ships in the fleet. This involves reviewing repair requests as well as repair and maintenance history to ensure process economy. Inspections are crucial to this process to verify the accuracy of repair requests and maintenance schedules. Subsequently, the port engineer will draw up specifications to complete the work and then liaise with external contractors and in-house staff to complete repairs or maintenance in a timely manner. In addition, a port engineer may need to help make repairs and perform maintenance, or train other employees to do so.
Investigating the causes of mechanical, equipment or power system failures is also part of the job. Port engineers will need to determine the cause of failure and make recommendations to ship officials to mitigate future disruptions to fleet operations. These investigations may also include examining and revising maintenance schedules and procedures where necessary, as well as analyzing data to determine the suitability of equipment in used or proposed new products.
Testing equipment, systems and machines is another important requirement for a port engineer. Determining test conditions – in addition to designing and implementing test operations – is the responsibility of the port engineer. Evaluating the final results and presenting these results to the ship’s officers forms part of the testing process.
Regulatory compliance and paperwork are also part of the job description. Ensuring that ships meet the required safety standards and maintaining documentation to that effect is an ongoing duty. Tracking all engineering department operations and maintaining records to document these operations and related expenses is also a crucial job function.
Overall, the port engineer utilizes exceptional mechanical skills, engineering knowledge, and appropriate supervisory and management skills to keep a marine fleet operating and on schedule. Environmental conditions in the ocean are severe, challenging port engineers to be proactive and mitigate the associated risks. Demand and challenge are inherent in the position, and potential employers are often looking for candidates with proven experience in a related position.
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