Merchant Navy engineering officer | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Find out which qualifications or skills you need to become Merchant Navy engineering officer

You can apply to sponsoring shipping or engineering companies to train as an engineering officer.

You will do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in marine or mechanical engineering. Your training will also include the Certificate of Competency, which you need to work at sea.

You'll normally need:

• GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English, maths, and a science, preferably physics
• 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications

If you've worked as a mechanical engineer elsewhere, for example in the fishing industry or the Royal Navy, you may be exempt from some of the training to become an engineer. You'll still need to find a company to sponsor you.

You'll need:

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• thinking and reasoning skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• business management skills
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently