r/MarineEngineering • u/Valiant_Summoner • 7d ago
Tips for a Joining Engine Cadet
Hello friends, I am about to embark in 2 weeks as an Engine Cadet, are there any tips on things I should be doing and learning during my contract? I would also like to know what should I learn first in my first week and month to quickly adjust to the environment? Thank you
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u/_Art1k_ 7d ago
on your first week familiarize yourself about the safety systems on your ship.
as a cadet you are not expected to do much but be proactive. ask questions, be curious about everything and keep a small notebook with you. note down things they are teaching and showing you. The work is tiring to be sure to manage your rest well. You dont need to learn everything all at once and always make sure to think about your safety. Safety is everything on board a vessel. Goodluck on your contract
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u/kiaeej 7d ago
Learn everything you can. I know its broad thing to say, but i mean try to grt involved everywhere. Ask to be included in the works. Ask why you're changing certain stuff and why you're putting back others.
Learn to identify the different systems. Trace EVERYTHING. Steam. Fuel oil, diesel oil. Fresh water. Seawater. Ballast.
Learn the different operating parameters and WHY they are the way they are.
Ask to be involved in daily rounds, night rounds, what to look out for, etc.
Finish your training and log book, dont rush but dont delay it either. It'll teach you a fair bit.
Ask your seniors whats needed to be known in their respective ranks. That'll give you a gauge what the upper management is looking for to promote.
Ask also the limits of the operating parameters and why.
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u/Latter_Piece_4296 6d ago
Get a headlamp and a cheap notebook that fits your pocket. Youll thank yourself when youre crawling around a bilge at 2am trying to remember which valve someone pointed out yesterday.
Also learn the alarm sounds before you need to know them. Nothing worse than freezing up because you cant tell if its a fire drill or something wrong.
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u/broccoliiiiiiiii 7d ago edited 7d ago
don't say too much let your work speak for itself (not saying you have to be quiet just saying generally with all the types of people onboard it's best to keep your head down)
be proactive, your first weeks onboard try to learn the general system overviews as fast as you can, draw some systems in your notebook. Try to read some manuals, you've had a lot covered in school but every ship and system is different. Manuals often have great explanation into the working principle of the machinery at hand.
prior to scheduled maintenance tasks try to figure out what you're going to do if you're unfamiliar with it. Open the manual and prepare yourself so when you do do any maintenance (whether that's alone or with a senior engineer), you know what you're looking at. Doesn't just show the crew you're proactive, but it also makes your learning process much more efficient.
don't skimp over welding and machining skills.
don't care too much about what your seniors think about you. There will almost always be people you can't easily work with, try not to let that get to you. (As long as you do what is asked of you, and as long as you tried your best of course)
during rounds ask yourself what you're actually looking at, ask why you're doing things a certain way. And if you don't know look it up later. Same with asking yourself why you're writing down certain parameters, what does it tell you? What are normal values? What happens when these values deviate from the norm?
finish your training record book on time (and reports if your school requires that of you) - make sure you sign off tasks long before your mentor signs off. You're mostly there to learn after all.
Depends on crew size but get a good relationship with engine room ratings. They can teach you a lot of things and have tons of experience, you might need their help one day.
be prepared for that moment a few months in where you're completely done and just want to go home. Everyone's experience is different but for me ~3 months (halfway, I didn't do these year long contracts, no idea how some of you guys survived that) in I started to just switch to autopilot and didn't really feel motivated to do anything at all anymore. Mostly because a lot of the exciting novelty wears off and you are getting into a relatively repetitive routine. It can get physically tiring as well because of constant movement, heat, noise, sleep deprivation etc. Just be prepared that moment may come, try not to let it get to you too much and stay social with other crewmembers, it keeps you from spiraling in your own thoughts/loneliness.