Main article: Seafarer’s professions and ranks

A Second Assistant Engineer or Third Engineer is a licensed member of the engineering department on a merchant vessel.

The Second Assistant is usually in charge of boilers, fuel, auxiliary engines, condensate and feed systems, and is the third most senior marine engineer on board. Depending on usage, “The Second” or “The Third” is also typically in charge of fueling (a.k.a. bunkering), granted the officer holds a valid Person In Charge (PIC) endorsement for fuel transfer operations.

The exact duties of this position will often depend upon the type of ship and arrangement of the engine department. On ships with steam propulsion plants The Second/Third is in charge of the boilers, combustion control, soot blowers, condensate and feed equipment, feed pumps, fuel, and condensers. On diesel and gas turbine propulsion plants The Second is in charge of auxiliary boilers, auxiliary engines, incinerator, air compressors, fuel, and fuel oil purifiers.

Notable Second assistant engineers

  • Raymond McKay
  • Paul Hall (labor leader)

See also


Nautical portal

  • Engine room
  • Engineering department

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Engine rooms

  • International Maritime Organization (1995). “III: Standards Regarding the Engine Department”, International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, Section A-III/1. 
  • International Labour Organization (2000-12-05). “Ship-Engineer (Machinist)”. International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.

v • d • e

Shipboard occupations

Senior Personnel

Captain  · Chief Engineer  · Harbor Pilot

Deck Department

Licensed : Chief Mate  · 2nd Mate  · 3rd Mate

Unlicensed : Boatswain  · Carpenter  · Able Seaman  · Ordinary Seaman

Engine Department

Licensed : 1st Assistant  · 2nd Assistant  · 3rd Assistant

Unlicensed : QMED  · Electrician  · Oiler  · Wiper  · Pumpman

Steward’s Department

Licensed : Purser

Unlicensed : Chief Steward  · Chief Cook  · Steward’s Assistant


This article related to water transport is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Assistant_Engineer”
Categories: Marine occupations | Water transport stubs | Nautical terms | Transportation occupations


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