Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
U.S. Workers
8,580
Median Salary
$101,320
10-Year Growth
+1.6%
Annual Openings
1,100
Typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
16 of 17 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Start engines to propel ships and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
AI: Fully automatable - Modern engine management and integrated control systems already enable automatic starting and regulation of propulsion per bridge/automatic commands, so AI can fully perform this task under normal operating conditions.
Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
AI: Fully automatable - Continuous sensor monitoring and AI anomaly detection can automatically track equipment indicators and alert appropriate staff, allowing full automation of monitoring and reporting functions.
Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated logging systems combined with AI summarization can reliably maintain complete engineering records and machine-operation logs without manual entry.
Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated testing systems and AI-driven diagnostic tools can monitor equipment operations and identify malfunctions and likely causes, enabling full automation of monitoring and fault identification.
Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.
AI: Fully automatable - Recording orders and automatically logging gauge readings and test data can be fully automated using integrated sensors, communication capture (voice/text), and logging software.
Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
AI: Fully automatable - Ordering, receiving, inventory management, and usage recording are routine information processes that can be fully automated with existing software, barcoding/RFID, and integration tools.
Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.
AI: Fully automatable - AI-driven CNC/CAM and metalworking machinery can fabricate many replacement engine parts automatically from CAD/CAM data with minimal human intervention.
Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
AI: Partial - Diagnosing and guiding repairs can be largely automated, but the hands‑on, variable nature of mechanical and electrical maintenance means AI cannot fully replace skilled human technicians.
Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
AI: Partial - AI can coordinate, simulate, and guide emergency drills and track compliance, but cannot physically stand in for human crew participation in real-world emergency exercises.
Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
AI: Partial - Many general maintenance tasks (repairing leaks, interior work, refueling, deck maintenance) require manual labor and on-site judgement, so AI mainly provides planning and diagnostic support rather than full automation.
Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
AI: Partial - Control, monitoring, and some automated responses for power, HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing are feasible, but hands-on maintenance and complex fault repairs still require human technicians.
Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
AI: Partial - AI systems with sensors and computer vision can detect and log the condition and presence of lifesaving and pollution-prevention equipment but regulatory inspections and complex judgement calls still require human oversight.
Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
AI: Partial - Robotic and automated cleaning systems can handle routine engine-room cleaning tasks, but detailed cleaning of parts and confined-space work still typically require human technicians.
Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
AI: Partial - Operation of off-loading pumps and valves can be automated and monitored by AI, but physical maintenance, repairs, and complex troubleshooting remain partly manual.
Supervise the activities of marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.
AI: Partial - AI can monitor technicians, track work and flag issues, but cannot fully replace human supervisory responsibilities, accountability, leadership, and nuanced inspection judgments.
Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.
AI: Partial - Serving as a liaison requires negotiation, context-sensitive decision-making, and relationship management that AI can support but not fully perform reliably in 2025.
Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
AI: Not automatable - Installing engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers requires heavy-duty, dexterous, on-site mechanical work and adaptive problem-solving that AI/robotics cannot reliably perform in 2025.