Career after the sea: how a marine engineer can become a ship’s auditor

The profession of marine engineer is one of the most responsible and challenging in the maritime industry. These specialists look after the technical maintenance of a ship, its main engine, air compressors and other auxiliary mechanisms, and thus ensure the safety of the main compartment of a seagoing vessel – the engine room. In addition, marine engineer work requires constant updating of qualifications. Engineers must regularly attend courses such as Engine Room Simulator, Engine Room Resource Management training , Asbestos Awareness Course, and others to keep their certificates valid.

Unfortunately, after many years at sea, many marine engineers get tired of such stressful work, as the regime on a marine vessel is quite tough and some marine engineers start to burn out due to fatigue.

But after spending many years at sea, many marine engineers consider changing careers to spend more time with family and friends. People who are on board a ship for long months can be disconnected from the usual daily tasks, such as constant communication with their spouse or children, friends – which can cause distance from those closest to them, which can eventually lead to serious psychological problems.

Because of this, many high-ranking engineers decide to move to onshore work, such as second or chief engineer, may become ship auditors, as this allows them to spend more time ashore at almost the same salary. And there are far fewer stressful situations.

A marine engineer’s path to the audit profession

The career of a marine engineer goes through several stages – from junior engineer to senior engineer. At each level, the engineer learns more and more about how ships function and how to manage different processes.

It is recommended that you reach the level of second or senior engineer to move into auditing, as this will provide you with a full set of knowledge and understanding of ship operations. As a senior engineer, you will often interact with the captain and shipowners, which helps prepare you for the job of an auditor.

The ISM-Code requires that to become an auditor, you must have a qualification in engineering or physics, or have studied at a maritime or navigational institution and have at least 5 years’ experience working on a ship as a certified officer. This experience helps in understanding all aspects of technical and operational safety, which is essential for an auditor.

Required education and courses to become an auditor

Becoming a ship auditor requires not only experience as a marine engineer, but also specialised courses and certifications related to international safety standards.

It is important to be trained in courses such as: I

• SM Code (International Safety Management Code);
• MARPOL (international requirements for pollution prevention);
• ILO (International Labour Protection and Safety Standards).

To become an ISM-Code certified auditor, the following requirements must be met: Education: A qualification in engineering or physics (at least two years), or a diploma from a maritime institution and at least five years of maritime experience.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of experience in ship safety and operation or as a certified officer.

Courses: Knowledge of ISM-Code, international regulations and standards, and proficiency in assessment and reporting techniques.

Competency Testing: Must pass written or oral examinations to verify knowledge and skills. Duties of a ship auditor

The main task of a ship auditor is to inspect ships for compliance with international safety standards. This includes assessing the condition of the ship, the correctness of records, compliance with environmental protection and safety system requirements. The auditor also assesses the qualification of the crew and checks how efficiently the processes on board are organised and also assesses the mental state of the people, as lately auditors are starting to pay more attention to the personnel, as nowadays most of the troubles are caused by human errors on board.

As nowadays all ships are technically optimised and the crew just need to know how to use them properly. Special attention is paid to the verification of the safety management systems (SMS) of the company and the ship, as well as the compliance of the ship with all ISM-Code requirements and other international regulations.

Benefits of the ship auditing profession

Moving into auditing offers significant benefits for marine engineers. First of all, it is an opportunity to continue working in the marine industry, and utilise your accumulated knowledge and experience, also more time on land. Yes, you will have to fly to ships in different countries a couple of times a month, but it is still better than being offshore for 4-5 months at a time.

Salary

Salary usually depends on how many ships you have checked for a month and which shipowner you work for as a ship checker – for one checked ship, you can get from 1k-2k for checking one ship.

Conclusion

The transition from marine engineer to ship auditor is a logical and promising step for those who want to continue working in the maritime industry, but aspire to a more stable life on land. The experience, technical knowledge and leadership skills gained help engineers make a successful transition into auditing, ensuring compliance with international safety and environmental standards.

Additional ISM-Code audit activity requirements:

• Participation in a minimum of three initial or follow-up vessel audits is required.
• Participation in the management of audits under other standards may be considered equivalent to participation in ISM-Code compliance audits.
• Auditors should receive regular training to keep their knowledge current

This path requires time and training, but for the experienced engineer it can be not only an alternative career but also a great opportunity to continue working in the industry they love with minimal health and personal risks.