Ocean engineers are known to use their oceanic environment knowledge in designing and building marine structures, ships, and other marine vessels. Many schools offer undergraduate and graduate ocean engineering programs.
Installation and inspection, repairs, or design improvements are supervised by marine engineers, where applicable. A career as an ocean, or marine engineer includes a degree in naval engineering, marines, or ocean engineering.
If you have wondered, or have always wanted to know what ocean engineering is all about then continue to learn about the qualifications and career opportunities in this area of engineering.
Ocean Engineers: What Do They Do?
Ocean Engineers collaborate with oceanographers, marine biologists, geologists, and geophysicists to develop tools and instruments for supporting research projects. They use a mixture of electrical, civil, mechanical, and general engineering concepts.
These instruments may be used for detecting underwater structures and formations of the seabed, measuring underwater earthquakes, or studying tides.
Ocean engineers work within a research or design team, but they may also create innovative research and exploration methods independently. It must be willing, often under harsh and hazardous circumstances, to operate on ships or in waterways.
The government, military, petroleum, conservation, or navigation industries, as well as private industry, also have employment opportunities in ocean engineering.
Educational Requirements to Become an Ocean Engineer
Bachelor and graduate programs in ocean engineering are required. Bachelor of marine engineering colleges expect students to take courses in architecture, oceanography, ocean systems, and engineering equipment for marine structures.
Bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering comprises an Ocean Engineering Bachelor of Science or as a civil engineer with a specialization in ocean engineering.
Specialization
In addition to specialized engineering and marine science courses, the master’s and Ph.D. programs in ocean engineering consist of independent research and fieldwork.
Ocean Engineering Bachelor’s degree programs provide an overview of the ocean environment and provide students with research methods such as study, construction, and operation of marine systems.
Students are taught geomechanics, power generation and marine structures, coastal engineering, ocean engineering, robotic architecture, and underwater acoustics. Many courses enable students to practice as part of a research or design team in the field or a laboratory.
Average Salary
Marine engineers usually work in coastal areas due to the nature of their work. The District of Columbia posted the highest average salaries for each state, with marine engineers receiving $115,840 on average per year.
Alaska was at the second position, with an average annual salary of $111,910, and California, with an average yearly salary of $111,350 for marine engineers. Texas was the fourth highest, on average, at $108,090 a year.
As of 2019, business management was the highest paying for marine engineers with an estimated annual salary of $135,770. People directly employed by the federal government have posted high wages of $106,460 per annum for this career.
Career Options
The government and the private sector employs ocean engineers, including employers for offshore oil, marine and maritime transportation industries.
Other fields of operation include energies, remote sensing, and underwater, and naval vehicles. Marine engineers and naval architects are designing, building, and operating aircraft carrier ships, from sailing boats to tankers.
The internal structures of a ship, including propulsion, electrical, refrigeration, and steering, are mainly the responsibility of marine engineers. The ship design, including shape, layout, and stability, is primarily the responsibility of the naval architects.
Where and How to Apply for a Job
Marine engineering is a multidisciplinary discipline in which oceanographers are wisely assisted by engineers in solving engineering problems relating to the ocean environment. They design and install marine science systems, equipment, and materials.
To apply, you may browse for job openings online. Visit the following websites for available jobs.
Again, this type of career has vast options. From research, field, and manufacturing, your job with this degree may vary from the industry that you want to work for.
Conclusion
The USÂ Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS)Â forecasts that between 2018 and 2028, ocean engineering jobs will increase by about 9%, higher than the projected 5% economic growth rate.
There is an assumption that demand for ocean engineers would push the need to alter existing green energy ships. The office also forecasts that the need to design equipment for offshore petroleum exploration would contribute to a high demand for jobs.
