The Third and Fourth Engineer are the watchkeeping engineering ranks at the start of the career ladder.
Third Engineer — daily duties
- Daily monitoring of generators, boilers and auxiliary machinery.
- Standing engine watch.
- Taking an active role in maintenance work.
Fourth Engineer — daily duties
- Monitoring the pump room and fresh/sewage water systems.
- Standing engine watch.
- Most engineers begin their career here.
A typical day
Watch hours (usually in 8-hour blocks) are spent in the engine room; outside watch, they join maintenance and repair work.
How to reach this rank
After a maritime academy degree and cadet sea service, the first competency exam qualifies you as Fourth Engineer; experience moves you up to Third Engineer.
To see the engine department hierarchy, check out "Shipboard Hierarchy 5: The Engine Department".
View open Third Engineer positions → · View open Fourth Engineer positions →
