Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Marine
engineers and naval architects are involved in the design, construction,
and maintenance of ships, boats, and related equipment. They design and
supervise the construction of everything from aircraft carriers to
submarines and from sailboats to tankers. Naval architects work on the
basic design of ships, including the form and stability of hulls.
Marine
engineers work on the propulsion, steering, and other systems of
ships. Marine engineers and naval architects apply knowledge from a
range of fields to the entire design and production process of all
water vehicles. Workers who operate or supervise the operation of
marine machinery on ships and other vessels also may be called
marine engineers or, more frequently, ship engineers.
According
to the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Marine
Engineers are responsible for selecting ships' machinery, which may
include diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines, or nuclear
reactors, and for the design of mechanical, electrical, fluid, and
control systems throughout the vessel. Some marine engineers serve
aboard ships to operate and maintain these systems.
 Preparation
Those interested in a
career in marine engineering and naval architecture should consider
reviewing engineering programs that are
accredited by
ABET, Inc. If you choose to attend a program that is not ABET accredited, you should be sure that the
university is
regionally accredited.
Admissions requirements for
undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in
mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science
(biology, chemistry, and physics), and courses in English, social
studies, humanities, and computer and information technology.
Co-ops
Students seeking
marine engineering jobs enhance their employment opportunities by
participating in internship or co-op programs offered through their
schools. These experiences provide the students with broad knowledge and
experience, making them more attractive candidates to employers. Many
universities offer co-op and internship programs for students studying
naval architecture and marine engineering.
Click here for more information.
Earnings
Along with a
sense of satisfaction, being compensated well for the work you do is a
primary concern. Many factors can affect what you earn. These include
your level of education, job function, occupation, and where you live.
According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual wage for Marine Engineers and Naval
Architects is $74,140 a year.
Employment
Naval architects and marine engineers hold about 8,500 jobs each
year in the United States.
Career
Path Forecast
According
to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, marine engineers and naval
architects are expected to have employment growth of 6 percent
from 2008 to 2018, slower than the average for all occupations.
Continued demand for naval vessels and recreational small craft
should more than offset the long-term decline in the domestic
design and construction of large oceangoing vessels. Good
prospects are expected for marine engineers and naval architects
because of growth in employment, the need to replace workers who
retire or take other jobs, and the limited number of students
pursuing careers in this occupation.
Professional
Organizations
 Society
of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
American
Society of Naval Engineers
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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