Thinking about pursuing a career in Engineering? No doubt you should consider the Marine branch.
After all, in the last decades, the maritime transport sector has been boosting a substantial share of the world economy. According to the CNI (Brazilian National Confederation of Industry), saltwater is responsible for over 95% of cargoes exported and imported by Brazil.
In addition, it is also expected that, in the near future, the oceans will play a leading role in the generation of renewable energy sources.
Therefore, both the opportunities that already exist and those to come within this career are growing, and this indicates that the job market for a naval engineer is indeed hot.
But what are the occupation areas for such a professional? And what are the prospects for those who choose to make a career in the maritime sector?
That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this article.
Main careers in Marine Engineering
Associating the figure of a Marine—or Naval—Engineer to the one professional responsible for shipbuilding is a very common thing. However, beyond developing vessels, it is possible to take on other assignments throughout one’s career in this area.
Ocean structures projects
A Marine Engineer works solving problems related to vessels and other floating structures, defining both technical and operational specifications. In addition, they are responsible for structural calculations and evaluating loads that act on structures.
River and maritime logistics
Working with logistics is one of the paths this professional can follow beyond boat and ship projects. In logistics, the engineer is responsible for planning and managing stages related to the water transport of goods inside and outside a country.
In other words, Naval Engineers are in charge of processes that range from the shipment of goods till their transportation, storage and unloading at ports. In addition, supervising connections made with other means of transportation is also under the responsibility of the Naval Engineer, who performs these tasks.
Research & Development
This branch is inextricably associated with conducting research aimed at creating new technologies and marine equipment.
The objective is, above all, to develop solutions to be implemented in projects, focusing on the improvement of vessels’ performance and on making possible the transportation of the biggest cargo possible without letting go of safety.
In addition, the research and development projects carried out by the Marine Engineer also serve to be employed in the construction and operation of offshore and submarine systems, aimed at O&G (Oil & Gas) exploration and energy generation at sea.
Shipbuilding
This is one of the most common areas of expertise for those pursuing a career in this engineering field. In working with shipbuilding, the professional is responsible for the construction of different vessels, whether ships, speedboats, boats, or other floating systems.
Laying down all operational, technical, and planning specifications for these constructions is certainly one of this professional’s responsibilities. And that’s not all!
In shipbuilding, the engineer is also in charge of the maintenance processes for hulls, engines, and shipboard structures. Not to mention that the inspection of oil production platforms is also part of their basic functions.
Marine Engineering
It’s very likely you’ve already seen or heard about systems whose “facilities” are located in the middle of the ocean for the purpose of exploring renewable and/or non-renewable natural resources. All these structures are designed by the Naval Engineer.
The Naval Engineer specializing in oceanic structures can work, for example, in the creation and maintenance of wind farms and in the generation of tidal energy. Wind farms are maritime areas where turbines are installed to generate power and tidal energy comprises electrical energy generated by the change in sea water level.
Job Market
Till the 1990s, most professionals who chose to pursue a career in Naval Engineering found themselves lost, struggling with a scarce market, without many job opportunities. However, this reality has been changing drastically over time, mainly due to the increase in the exploitation of maritime routes for commercial purposes, namely: oil and renewable energy sources.
Currently, the job market in the naval area is remarkably wide. Such professionals can manage shipbuilding and maintenance services, as well as plan waterway transport systems. In addition, it is also possible for Marine Engineers to work on board.
Therefore, opportunities to build a successful career in Naval Engineering abound. And if you’re looking for a job within this area, Proper Marine is your company. We work and offer solutions through offshore naval projects and consulting and are always looking for new talents to compose our team of professionals.
Visit our website right now and check out the available job openings there, or you can send in your résumé to our talent bank.
We look forward to having you on our team!
