Merchant Navy Engineering Officers are responsible for the maintenance and operation of mechanical, electrical, navigation and communication devices and equipments. They work in passenger ferries, cruise liners, tankers, container ships, and all kinds of ships. They use analytical and technical skills to diagnose technical faults and supervise other officers are ratings under their command. They dismantle, repair and reassemble variety of equipments. In defence forces, they are also required to handle the weapons.

They are also responsible for periodic maintenance checks on machinery of all kinds, and maintaining optimum levels of fuel and spare parts for ready use. There is a hierarchy of the posts – Chief Engineer, Second Officer, Third Officer and Fourth Officer, each having their own duties like allocating staff, overseeing day to day duties, maintenance of communication systems and machinery. They also train newly hired people. An able merchant navy engineering officer always has the