# Engine department > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Engine_department > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Engine_department.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_department > Source revision: 1318505567 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Organizational unit aboard a ship}}{{More citations needed|date=September 2025}}[[File:Argonaute engine control room.jpg|thumb|The engine [control room](/source/control_room) on the ''Argonaute''.]] An '''engine department''' or '''engineering department''' is an organizational unit aboard a [ship](/source/ship) that is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the [propulsion](/source/propulsion) systems and the support systems for crew, passengers, and cargo.Wise Geek: [https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-engine-department-on-a-us-merchant-ship.htm ''What is the Engine Department on a US Merchant Ship?''] These include the [ship engine](/source/ship_engine), [fuel oil](/source/fuel_oil), [lubrication](/source/lubrication), [water](/source/water) [distillation](/source/distillation), [separation process](/source/separation_process), [lighting](/source/lighting), [air conditioning](/source/air_conditioning), and [refrigeration](/source/refrigeration). == History == The engine department emerged with the arrival of marine engines for propulsion, largely during the later half of the 19th century. Due to advances in marine technology during the 20th century, the engine department aboard [merchant ship](/source/merchant_ship)s is considered equally important as the [deck department](/source/deck_department), since trained engine officers are required to handle the machinery on a ship.{{cn|date=July 2012}} The engine department takes care of the engine room aboard a ship. Rotations vary depending on the vessel or company. Whoever is on a rotation has to stand watch to look over the engine and its components. There are different crew members for watch rotation.{{Cite web|title=STCW engineering watchkeeping principles|url=https://weh.maritime.edu/stcw/2018/content/principles.html#:~:text=The%20officer%20in%20charge%20of%20the%20engineering%20watch%20is%20the,testing,%20as%20required,%20of%20all|access-date=2021-05-15|website=weh.maritime.edu}} == Staffing == thumb|Watch Standing Mate. left|thumb|249x249px|Watch officer (chief engineer) working. Typically, a ship's engine department is run by the [engine officer](/source/engine_officer)s but staffed with other occupational specialties of the seafarer's trade like: *Machinist/Fitter: A rating (or petty officer) who is specialized in fabrication, welding, etc. *Motorman: A, not always, qualified engine rating who stands a watch with the engine officer, as well as performing routine tasks and assisting engine officers during maintenance. *[Oiler](/source/Oiler_(occupation)): A rating who is responsible for ensuring that machinery is adequately lubricated. Performs menial tasks such as cleaning, sounding tanks etc. *[Wiper](/source/Wiper_(occupation)): The lowest rating in the engine room and is tasked with keeping the machinery spaces clean and tidy. Wipers usually go on to become oilers once they are familiar with engine room machinery and specific routines. == Requirements == In order to be a [watch officer](/source/Watchkeeping) and have the license for it, there are 3 basic requirements and they are age, seagoing service, and education/training on [stcw](/source/STCW_Convention)'s.{{Cite web|last=|title=What are the STCW Requirements for Officer in Charge of Engineering Watch (OICEW)?|url=https://www.edumaritime.net/stcw/general-requirements-for-oicew|access-date=2021-03-16|website=www.edumaritime.net|language=en-us}} Some basic USCG stcw requirements go further into seagoing service, approved trainings such as; engine resource management, gas/steam turbine plants, control systems, etc., and finally the competencies which include "Evidence of Standard of competence".{{Cite web|last=Edumaritime|title=USCG OICEW STCW Requirements - Merchant Mariner Credential|url=https://www.edumaritime.net/uscg-mmc/uscg-requirements-for-oicew-stcw-endorsement|access-date=2021-04-28|website=www.edumaritime.net|language=en-us}} Defunct positions within the engine department include the [fireman](/source/Fireman_(steam_engine)), who was a rating responsible for shoveling coal into the boiler furnaces of [steam engine](/source/steam_engine)s, and the [coal trimmer](/source/coal_trimmer), a rating that loaded coal in the bunkers and transported the coal from the bunkers to the firemen. == Modern times == Nowadays, due to the increase in [automation](/source/automation) on merchant vessels, and the increase in the unattended machinery spaces (UMS) aboard them, the number of seafaring engine officers has decreased drastically on board merchant ships. Today, the engine department usually consists of the following number of engine officers and ratings:{{cn|date=July 2012}} * (1) [Chief engineer](/source/Chief_engineer) * (1) [Second engineer](/source/Second_engineer) * (1) [Third engineer](/source/Third_engineer) * (1-2) [Fourth engineer](/source/Fourth_engineer) * (0-1) [Engine Cadet](/source/Cadet) * (2-4) [Motorman](/source/Motorman_(ship)) * (0-2) [Oiler](/source/Oiler_(occupation)) * (0-1) [Wiper](/source/Wiper_(occupation)) Additionally, many vessels also carry a specific type of engine officer known as an [electro-technical officer](/source/electro-technical_officer). == See also == {{Portal|Transport}} * [Engine officer](/source/Engine_officer) * [Engine room](/source/Engine_room) * [List of maritime colleges](/source/List_of_maritime_colleges) * [Marine fuel management](/source/Marine_fuel_management) * [Seafarer's professions and ranks](/source/Seafarer's_professions_and_ranks) * [Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers](/source/Society_of_Naval_Architects_and_Marine_Engineers) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Merchant Marine Billets}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Engine department}} Category:Marine occupations Category:Merchant navy Category:Maritime safety --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Engine department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_department) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_department?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.