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Marine Engineers and Naval Architects: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.

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This source lists 30 tasks, including 23 marked Core and 7 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2025.

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30 tasks shown

Core · Task 21890 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.

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Core · Task 21887 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.

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Core · Task 21915 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.

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Core · Task 21889 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.

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Core · Task 21907 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.

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Core · Task 21903 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.

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Core · Task 21894 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.

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Core · Task 21905 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.

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Core · Task 21895 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.

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Core · Task 21900 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.

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Core · Task 21892 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.

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Core · Task 21899 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.

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Core · Task 21896 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises.

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Core · Task 21910 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and structures.

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Core · Task 21916 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment.

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Core · Task 21901 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.

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Core · Task 21893 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.

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Core · Task 21904 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.

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Core · Task 21898 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment.

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Core · Task 21913 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Analyze data to determine feasibility of product proposals.

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Core · Task 21911 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.

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Core · Task 21909 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.

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Core · Task 21912 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on ships to ensure that costs are economically sound.

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Supplemental · Task 21888 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties.

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Supplemental · Task 21897 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Act as liaisons between ships' captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained, and that ships are operated safely and efficiently.

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Supplemental · Task 21902 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.

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Supplemental · Task 21908 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for installation on vessels.

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Supplemental · Task 21891 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Oversee construction and testing of prototype in model basin and develop sectional and waterline curves of hull to establish center of gravity, ideal hull form, and buoyancy and stability data.

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Supplemental · Task 21906 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery.

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Supplemental · Task 21914 · 08/2025 · Occupational Expert

Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems.

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Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.