Chief Engineer

Primary qualification

• STCW Regulation III/2 Chief Engineer certificate of competency (management level) for ships of ≥ 3,000 kW, or III/3 for 750–3,000 kW.
• Spain: professional title of Chief Engineer of the Merchant Navy (Royal Decree 973/2009), with attributions without power limit on Spanish merchant ships.
• Endorsements per ship: V/1 for tankers (advanced cargo level where duties apply), V/3 (IGF Code) on ships using low-flashpoint fuels.

Basic STCW

• A-VI/1-1 Personal survival
• A-VI/1-2 Fire fighting
• A-VI/1-3 First aid
• A-VI/1-4 Prevention and fight against pollution
• A-VI/3 Advanced fire fighting

Specific courses

• ERM — engine-room resource management at management level (A-III/2, Manila)
• High voltage (> 1,000 V) at management level (A-III/2)
• MARPOL Annex I and VI: 15 ppm separator, ORB and SOPEP/SMPEP plan
• Advanced firefighting (A-VI/3) in force
• IGF/dual-fuel familiarisation where the ship requires it

Indicative experience

STCW III/2: minimum 36 months' seagoing service as engineer officer, of which at least 12 with second-engineer responsibility. Under the Spanish route, the Chief title additionally requires the second-engineer time set by RD 973/2009 (indicative, check the DGMM call).

Observations

Typical route: Engineer Officer (III/1) → Second Engineer (III/2) → Chief Engineer. Certificate class depends on propulsion power (750–3,000 kW / ≥ 3,000 kW); five-yearly revalidation. Naming note: Spanish 'Jefe de Máquinas' = Chief Engineer.

Typical watches

Not applicable.

Key responsibilities

• Total responsibility for the machinery and technical safety of the vessel.
• PMS maintenance and control planning.
• Compliance with STCW, MARPOL, SOLAS and company procedures.

Operational scope

• Engine department management
• Regulatory compliance
• Technical availability