Naval architect to marine engineer
A naval architect already meets 57% of what the marine engineer role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.
52.7/ 100
1 How much of what a marine engineer is expected to do is already part of a naval architect’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the marine engineer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A marine engineer role treats 11 of its required skills as things a naval architect already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adjust engineering designs
- design prototypes
- engineering principles
- engineering processes
- ensure vessel compliance with regulations
- execute analytical mathematical calculations
What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 42 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A marine engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a naval architect background worth leading with.
- already held naval architecture engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held conduct energy audit information skills
- already held simulate mechatronic design concepts communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held vessel fuels natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held analyse stress resistance of products information skills
- already held promote innovative infrastructure design communication, collaboration and creativity
All 42 carried skills, including the 11 the marine engineer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 30 missing skills fall into 12 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn maritime electric drives required
- still to learn marine engineering required
- still to learn mechanics required
- still to learn principles of mechanical engineering required
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held marine technology optional
- optional, not held precision mechanics optional
- still to learn re-assemble engines required
- optional, not held disassemble engines optional
- optional, not held manage the operation of propulsion plant machinery optional
- optional, not held operate marine machinery systems optional
- optional, not held operate ship propulsion system optional
- optional, not held maintain electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain shipboard machinery optional
- optional, not held repair engines optional
- still to learn approve engineering design required
- still to learn use tools for construction and repair required
- still to learn inspect engine rooms required
- still to learn use technical drawing software required
6 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a marine engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 maritime electric drives study this
- 02 re-assemble engines practise this
- 03 use tools for construction and repair practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 42 skills that carry over
- already held adjust engineering designs skill
- already held design prototypes skill
- already held engineering principles knowledge
- already held engineering processes knowledge
- already held ensure vessel compliance with regulations skill
- already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held mechanics of vessels knowledge
- already held naval architecture knowledge
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held use maritime English skill
- already held CAE software knowledge
- already held analyse stress resistance of products skill
- already held analyse test data skill
- already held assemble mechatronic units skill
- already held automation technology knowledge
- already held battery chemistry knowledge
- already held battery components knowledge
- already held chemical products knowledge
- already held cloud technologies knowledge
- already held composite materials knowledge
- already held conduct energy audit skill
- already held create technical plans skill
- already held design principles knowledge
- already held draft design specifications skill
- already held install automation components skill
- already held install mechatronic equipment skill
- already held maintain robotic equipment skill
- already held material mechanics knowledge
- already held mechanical engineering knowledge
- already held mechatronics knowledge
- already held promote innovative infrastructure design skill
- already held promote sustainable energy skill
- already held record test data skill
- already held sensors knowledge
- already held simulate mechatronic design concepts skill
- already held solar energy knowledge
- already held test mechatronic units skill
- already held unstructured data knowledge
- already held use CAD software skill
- already held use CAM software skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
The 6 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held maintain safe engineering watches optional
- optional, not held perform small vessel safety measures optional
- optional, not held perform small vessel safety procedures optional
- optional, not held prevent sea pollution optional
- optional, not held lead a team in fishery services optional
- optional, not held manage engine-room resources optional
- optional, not held ship related legislative requirements optional
- optional, not held lubricate engines optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
21 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held disassemble engines optional
- optional, not held lead a team in fishery services optional
- optional, not held maintain safe engineering watches optional
- optional, not held manage engine-room resources optional
- optional, not held manage the operation of propulsion plant machinery optional
- optional, not held operate marine machinery systems optional
- optional, not held operate ship propulsion system optional
- optional, not held perform small vessel safety measures optional
- optional, not held perform small vessel safety procedures optional
- optional, not held prevent sea pollution optional
- optional, not held ship related legislative requirements optional
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held lubricate engines optional
- optional, not held maintain electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain shipboard machinery optional
- optional, not held marine technology optional
- optional, not held precision mechanics optional
- optional, not held repair engines optional
50 held skills the marine engineer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse big data skill
- not needed by the target role analyse energy consumption skill
- not needed by the target role analyse production processes for improvement skill
- not needed by the target role analyse ship operations skill
- not needed by the target role assemble sensors skill
- not needed by the target role assess environmental impact skill
- not needed by the target role assess financial viability skill
- not needed by the target role assess structural integrity of ship for maritime usage skill
- not needed by the target role battery fluids knowledge
- not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct performance tests skill
- not needed by the target role control engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role control production skill
- not needed by the target role data analytics knowledge
- not needed by the target role data mining knowledge
- not needed by the target role data storage knowledge
- not needed by the target role defense system knowledge
- not needed by the target role design automation components skill
- not needed by the target role develop energy saving concepts skill
- not needed by the target role develop waste management processes skill
- not needed by the target role energy efficiency knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure compliance with environmental legislation skill
- not needed by the target role ensure integrity of hull skill
- not needed by the target role environmental legislation knowledge
- not needed by the target role execute feasibility study skill
- not needed by the target role fluid mechanics knowledge
- not needed by the target role fuel gas knowledge
- not needed by the target role guidance, navigation and control knowledge
- not needed by the target role identify energy needs skill
- not needed by the target role information extraction knowledge
- not needed by the target role information structure knowledge
- not needed by the target role inspect construction of ships skill
- not needed by the target role integrate new products in manufacturing skill
- not needed by the target role manufacturing processes knowledge
- not needed by the target role operate battery test equipment skill
- not needed by the target role perform data mining skill
- not needed by the target role perform test run skill
- not needed by the target role physics knowledge
- not needed by the target role quality standards knowledge
- not needed by the target role renewable energy knowledge
10 further entries not listed here
11 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn maritime electric drives required
- still to learn marine engineering required
- still to learn mechanics required
- still to learn principles of mechanical engineering required
- optional, not held ship related legislative requirements optional
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held marine technology optional
- optional, not held precision mechanics optional
Common questions about this move
Can a naval architect become a marine engineer?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A naval architect already covers 57% of what a marine engineer is expected to do: 42 skills carry over, 11 of which the marine engineer role treats as required.
What skills does a naval architect need to become a marine engineer?
9 required skills are missing, plus 21 optional ones. They fall into 12 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by engineering, manufacturing and construction. The single most important is maritime electric drives.
How hard is the move from naval architect to marine engineer?
Its learning distance is 52.7 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.