Offshore oil and gas platforms are some of the most challenging work sites in the industry. Any exploration or production activities that take place in water require specialized marine vessels and installations. From stern to bow, every element in the offshore oil and gas industry has a marine engineer behind it somewhere. As experts in tools, equipment and processes, they make sure things are designed to work well and keep on working.
Oil and gas exploration and production occurs not only on land but also in marine environments. These near-shore and deep-water activities pose particular challenges.
Marine engineers plan, develop and design all elements of propulsion, safety, power, maneuvering, tethering, ballast control systems on marine vessels and ballast, umbilical connections, and positioning systems and foundations for offshore marine installations including drilling and production platforms.
Marine engineers prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions and act as project coordinators and leaders during the concept, design, construction and testing phases of marine vessel and installation projects.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Offshore, Exploration and production, Oil and gas services
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Limited
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Undertaking preliminary analysis, power, propulsion and safety system requirements and laying out optimization, design and construction requirements, as well as project economics to determine the optimal design characteristics of vessels or other installations to meet stated requirements.
- Preparing plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications including any special provisions.
- Researching, conceptualizing, sourcing, and designing tenders, evaluating bids and managing supplier relationships.
- Overseeing and writing reports and appropriate regulatory applications.
- Communicating with and coordinating the activities of production team members and acting as general project coordinator.
Education
- A bachelor’s degree in mechanical or civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
Licensing
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Additional Requirements
- Depending on the company and responsibilities, typical requirements may include:
- Knowledge of the following specialized software programs may be required: Siemens PLM, Ship Constructor, Dassault Systems Solidworks, CAD, AutoCAD
- Experience with engineering software applications such as SFRAME, STAAD, RISA
- Extensive knowledge of all relevant codes and standards
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements. Marine work in general includes:
- Basic Survival Training
- Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)
- Helicopter Underwater Emergency Breathing Apparatus (HUEBA)
- Marine Emergency Duties (MED)
- Offshore Medical
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- First Aid/CPR
- H2S Alive
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Administration
- Building and Construction
- Chemistry
- Design Creation
- Application of Engineering Design and Technology
- Laws and Regulations
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Production and Processing
- Cost Benefit Analysis
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Preventative Maintenance
- Installation
- Managing Finances
- Operation and Control
- Operations Design Analysis
- Systems Evaluation and Analysis
- Technology Design
- Complex Problem Solving
- Professional Judgment and Decision Making
- Planning and Organizing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
