Chief Engineer Jobs on Tankers

Role overview

Open recruitment for crewing agencies and shipowners we work with. This page is not a single vacancy: apply to be considered for Chief Engineer posts on oil and chemical tankers when they open.

A chief engineer on a tanker is responsible for the machinery that serves the cargo as well as the propulsion plant. Depending on the ship this means steam-driven cargo pumps and large boilers (common on crude carriers), hydraulic deepwell pump systems on product and chemical tankers, the inert gas plant or nitrogen generator, cargo heating, and ballast water treatment. A breakdown of the cargo system delays the terminal and the charterer, so tanker operators look for chief engineers who know these systems well.

Certificates for Chief Engineer posts on oil and chemical tankers

Certificate of Competency as Chief Engineer Officer (STCW Reg. III/2 or III/3)
Advanced training for oil tanker and/or chemical tanker cargo operations (STCW Reg. V/1-1); the chief engineer is one of the officers who need it
High-voltage training if the ship has HV systems; company courses for the main engine type
Proficiency in designated security duties (STCW Reg. VI/6) and flag endorsements (STCW Reg. I/10)

Watches, trade and contract

The chief engineer is on day work and on call. Before arrival he or she checks the cargo pumps, the inert gas system and the emergency stops, and on crude carriers runs the boilers at full load for discharge. MARPOL compliance is a large part of the job: the Oil Record Book Part I, the oily water separator, sludge and bunker records, and fuel sulphur limits (0.50% globally and 0.10% in emission control areas, MARPOL Annex VI).

Contract length: commonly 3 to 5 months, set by the employer for each vacancy.

What employers ask for

Time in rank on tankers, counted in the charterers’ officer experience matrix
Experience with the cargo pump type on the ship (steam turbine pumps, Framo or other hydraulic systems)
Good vetting and port state control records for the engine room
Experience with the main engine maker on board (for example MAN B&W or WinGD) and with ballast water treatment systems

How to apply

Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
Fill in your CV with your sea service on oil and chemical tankers, your CoC and the certificates listed above, and upload copies.
Apply to this post and make your profile visible to verified employers, so crewing agencies and shipowners can find you when a vacancy opens.

Create seafarer account See all jobs

More jobs

Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.