Sailing Towards Success: How to Become a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy

Introduction

Becoming a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy is a challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity. You’ll lead the ship’s engine department, manage complex machinery, mentor juniors, and ensure every voyage is powered safely and efficiently. This guide walks you step by step from joining as a trainee engineer, to climbing rung by rung, to finally holding the Chief Engineer’s certificate.

If you’re a student, a marine professional, or simply curious about the engine side of life at sea, this article is for you. I kept the language simple and included all your original points.

Career Ladder in the Engine Department

Before diving into steps, here’s the usual path you’ll follow:

1. Trainee / Junior Engineer (sometimes called Fifth Engineer)
2. Fourth Engineer
3. Third Engineer
4. Second Engineer
5. Chief Engineer

Along the way, you’ll accumulate sea time, pass written and oral exams, collect documents, and obtain various Certificates of Competency (CoC).

In brief, your career path will look something like this

Steps to Become a Chief Engineer

1. Pre-sea Training & Entry Qualification

• To enter this field, you must complete your Class XII (12th grade) in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Math), typically with 60% or above.
• After that, you can join a pre-sea training program. Options include:
    • B.Tech in Marine Engineering (4 years)
    • B.E. Mechanical Engineering + Graduate Marine Engineering (GME)
    • Or, if you already hold a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, some institutes allow lateral entry into marine engineering.

Once you complete your pre-sea training (with practical and theory components), you become eligible to start on a ship as a trainee marine engineer (also sometimes called engine cadet).

2. Sail for 6 Months & Complete Advanced Courses

• After joining a ship, you must complete at least 6 months (≈183 days) of on-board service or sea time.
• During or after this period, you’ll take advanced courses such as:
    • ERS (Engine Room Simulator)
    • High Voltage
    • Advanced STCW modules

Once you’ve done that, you become eligible to attempt MEO Class IV examinations.

3. Document Submission & Promotion to 4th Engineer

• Gather sea service letters signed by the ship’s master, and maintain your TAR (Training, Assessment, Record) book.
• Submit all required documents to your nearest MMD (Mercantile Marine Department). In India, MMDs are located in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Cochin.
• Also submit EXN 45, the officer’s record book which lists the exams you’ve attempted.
• Upon successful assessment and examination, you’ll receive your Class IV CoC, enabling your promotion to 4th Engineer.
  

4. Promotion to 3rd Engineer

• You must sail for 12 months as a Fourth Engineer before you become eligible to prepare for the Third Engineer exams.
• These exams include:
    • Written (6 papers): General, Motor, MEP (Marine Engineering Practice), MET (Marine Electro-Technology), SSEP (Ship Safety & Environmental Protection), Naval Architecture
    • Oral (4 or more): Function 3 (SSEP), Function 4B (Motor), Function 5 (MEP), Function 6 (MET). There’s also Function 4A (Steam Engines) as an optional exam—for those who will work with steam systems.
• You book exams via the e-Pariksha portal (DG Shipping). There’s a fee (e.g. INR 1,000).
• Once you clear, you collect the updated EXN 45, receive your Third Engineer CoC, and you can be promoted to 3rd Engineer.

5. Promotion to 2nd Engineer

• After you’ve sailed 12 months as a Third Engineer, you can attempt the Second Engineer exams / CoC.
• The process is similar: submit your sea service letters, TAR book, EXN 45 to the MMD, book the exam (fee ~ INR 3,000), clear the written & oral modules, and get your 2nd Engineer CoC.

6. Sail 18 Months & Prepare for the Chief Engineer Exam

• Once you are a 2nd Engineer, you must sail at least 18 months before you become eligible to sit for the Chief Engineer / Class I examination.
• Again, you submit the sea service records, TAR book, EXN 45, apply at MMD, pay the exam fee (e.g., INR 5,000), and take the required written + oral exam.
• Passing that exam gives you the Chief Engineer Certificate of Competency (CoC) — your formal stamp of promotion to Chief Engineer.

7. Bonus: Extra First Class

• After 24 months as Chief Engineer, you may apply for Extra Class One status.
• This additional certificate (1 written + 1 oral) allows you broader opportunities (for example, as surveyor or in certain shore roles).
  

Duties & Responsibilities of a Chief Engineer

Reaching the rank is one thing — doing justice to it is another. Below are the key roles and duties you’ll hold as Chief Engineer.

Also Read: Marine Industry Guide: Career, Courses & Opportunities

Leadership & Personnel Management

• You oversee the entire engine department, assigning responsibilities, scheduling work/rest, and ensuring competence of junior engineers and engine ratings.
• Mentor, train, and appraise staff.
• Maintain discipline, welfare, and efficiency of the team.

Safety, Ship & Environmental Oversight

• Ensure that all machinery is safe and functional before departure.
• Be present (or have proper delegation) during arrival/departure and emergencies.
• Ensure statutory & class surveys are carried out in time.
• Implement environmental regulations (e.g. MARPOL), maintain Oil Record Book, manage spill plans, and ensure the ship meets compliance.
• Act as the onboard Environmental Control Officer (ECO) in many cases. 

Maintenance & Machinery Performance

• Identify critical machinery, supervise maintenance, and monitor performance continuously.
• Ensure compliance with the Planned Maintenance System (PMS).
• Decide on repairs needing shore assistance, advise the master/owner accordingly.
• Optimize fuel, oil, spares usage, and achieve economy in consumption.

Bunkering & Resource Planning

• Plan & supervise bunkering operations (fuel & lube oil), ensuring correct procedures.
• Advise Master on fuel consumption, remaining quantities, and fuel needed for voyage.
  

Recordkeeping & Documentation

• Maintain logs, manuals, drawings, defect lists, inventory, correspondence, maintenance records, class survey reports, etc.
• Prepare standing orders and issue night orders as needed (though in unmanned machinery mode night orders may be minimal).
  

Key Performance Metrics (what you’ll be judged by)

• Zero unplanned breakdowns or blackouts
• No overdue surveys or non-conformities
• No port detentions (PSC inspections)
• No failures in machinery or safety systems
• Maintain proper spares levels and prevent shortages
• Good interdepartmental relations, clean audits, and compliance
  

Some Additional Notes & Tips

• The curriculum and exam structure (subjects, oral functions) remain common for Classes III & II (i.e. 3rd & 2nd Engineer levels).
• Always ensure your documents are valid at the time of oral exam — expired documents can be rejected.
• In many companies and ships, promotion depends not just on passing exams, but also on strong appraisal by Chief / management and ship/company policies.
• On steam-propelled ships, extra exams (Function 4A) may be required.
• When preparing for Class I (Chief Engineer), it may help to study management, machinery interactions, regulations, ship systems beyond your current scope.
• Once you become Chief Engineer, if you sail outside your home country for 182+ days a year, your income may be exempt from domestic income tax (depending on your country’s tax laws). In India, many seafarers enjoy tax benefits.
  

Why This Path Matters

This is more than a promotion ladder. As you move from 4th → 3rd → 2nd → Chief Engineer, your responsibility shifts from hands-on maintenance to systems thinking, planning, leadership, compliance, and safety. You’ll transition from doing the work to ensuring the work is done correctly by others.

By the time you reach Chief Engineer, you must know:

• every major engine and auxiliary system (electrical, fuel, pumps, cooling, HVAC, automation),
• environmental and safety rules,
• how to plan maintenance, operations, and budget,
• how to lead a team under pressure.

Also, this expertise opens doors beyond sea life: technical superintendent, surveyor, port engineer, audit roles, etc.