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CAREER ARTICLES
Career Opportunities in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN NAVAL ARCHITECTURE AND OCEAN
ENGINEERING
S.Anbukumar,
INTRODUCTION
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering are job oriented areas with good
potential. However, the fact is that the number of institutions catering to this course of study
is limited. As offshore industry is becoming commercially important in several fields like
transport, trade, oil and gas, mineral exploration, etc., more efficiently designed vessels and
offshore facilities are the need of the day. This commercial importance is because oceans
truly are the last frontiers remaining on earth, and it is up to the ocean engineers to find ways
to reckon, investigate and utilize ocean and coastal resources. Hence, the prospects for the
beginners in this area looks bright.
Ocean Engineering as a discipline encompasses the breadth of engineering sciences
including design, construction, development, operation and planning of systems that operate
in an oceanic and marine environment. Naval Architecture, which has traditionally been
studied as a discipline in itself is however a subdivision of ocean engineering, that specializes
in the design of ships and other sea-going vessels. In Naval Architecture, all structures related
to ship building, i.e., the ships, boats, submarines, Oil rigs, hover crafts, etc., are to be
designed.Therefore, the main activities involved in the discipline of Ocean Engineering and
Naval Architecture are the preliminary design of the offshore structures, its detailed design,
construction, trials, operation and maintenance, launching and dry-docking works etc.
Ocean Engineers and Naval Architects:
Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers are also engineers, who perform the
activities of design, construction, maintenance and repair of ships, boats, other marine vessels
and offshore structures. There scope is not only constrained to civilian activities, but also to
military activities like in design and construction of submarines, warships, frigates,
destroyers, etc,. Since, Ocean Engineering is a discipline having influence from different
disciplines, to undertake all these tasks the Ocean Engineer must have an understanding of
many branches of engineering and must be in the forefront of high technology areas such as
computer aided design and calculation. Therefore, a Ocean Engineer/Naval Architect requires
a creative, enquiring and logical mind; the ability to communicate clearly in speech and
writing with others inside and outside the engineering profession; sound judgment andqualities of leadership. The education and training given to the Ocean Engineers are designed
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to develop these skills and to lead him or her to recognised qualifications and professional
status.
Significance of Ocean Engineering:
Ocean Engineering is a co-operative effort between groups of technically skilled
individuals who are specialists in particular fields, often coordinated by a lead Ocean
engineer, because of the complexity associated with operating in the marine environment and
the influence of various disciplines like oceanography, environmental enginnering, structural
engineering, marine engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.,. Also due to this integral
complexity, the analytical tools available in this field are much less evolved than those for
designing aircraft, cars and even spacecraft. This is primarily attributed to the paucity of data
on the environment the marine vehicle is required to work in and the complexity of the
interaction of waves and wind on a marine structure. Therefore, a lot needs to be done on this
field, which increases the demand for Ocean engineers.
Modern engineering on this scale is essentially a team activity conducted by professional engineers in their respective fields and disciplines. However, it is the Ocean
Engineers who integrates their activities and take ultimate responsibility for the overall
project. This demanding leadership role requires managerial qualities and ability to bring
together the often conflicting demands of the various professional engineering disciplines
involved to produce a product which is "fit for the purpose". In addition to this vital
managerial role, the Ocean Engineers also have a specialist function in ensuring that a safe,
economic and seaworthy design is produced. Without them providing for the safe and
efficient transport and recovery of the world's raw materials and products, modern society as
we know could not have existed.
While engineering has been around for hundreds of years, the term "ocean
engineering" has been in existence for only about 50 years. However, there are certainly a
myriad of engineering problems related to our oceans that have existed for quite some time
and most of which still need attention. As we know more than two-thirds of the earth is
covered by oceans, and more than 90% of the biological living space exists in the oceans, but
in terms of number of ocean engineers, they are very few. So, now those who choose ocean
engineering have quite a collection of problems to solve, that is, they are having lots of
opportunities to excel. Therefore, Ocean engineering as a field of engineering that has many
opportunities within it to make an impact.
Domains of Ocean Engineering:
There are six main forms of ocean engineering, though most ocean engineering
students will learn all aspects of the career so that they are eligible for most ocean
engineering jobs as soon as they graduate.
Mapping the sea or ocean floor is one of the specialties. Students spend their days
in designing, building, and running equipment and programs that can be used to create clear
maps of the ocean floor’s landscape. This knowledge can help prevent shipwrecks caused by
hitting sand bars or reefs. Hydrodynamics is a branch in which students learn how the water’s
flow affects items in its way. Underwater acoustics is another specialty with ocean
engineering that uses sound waves to study the ocean floor. Coastal modeling is a branch of
ocean engineering in which physics and maths are used to predict the rate at which a tide or
erosion ocean engineering students is changing a coastline. Marine geomechanics specialistsstudy the changes of a seabed when items like erosion, earthquakes, slope deformities, and
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man-made intrusions take place. Finally, offshore structural engineering is a branch of ocean
engineering where students learn to design offshore structures like piers, tide breaks, sewer
pipes, breakwaters, jetties, oil platforms, oil rigs, etc., and study how offshore structures get
affected by the marine environment and how the marine environment get affected by offshore
structures.
Also, the field of ocean engineering provides an important link between the other oceanographic disciplines such as marine biology, chemical and physical oceanography, and
marine geology and geophysics. Just as the interests of oceanographers have driven the
demand for the design skills and technical expertise of ocean engineers, the innovations in
instrumentation and equipment design made by ocean engineers have revolutionized the field
of oceanography. This is especially true within the last three decades.
Career Scopes for Ocean Engineers and Naval Architects:
Ocean Engineers have a wide range of employment opportunities world-wide.
Because of the wide variety of work they are involved in and the difficulty to categorise the
field comprehensively, the Ocean Engineers are mainly related to engineering field asdesigners and construction supervisors, they also have scope in areas like Consultancy,
Marketing and Sales, Operations, Regulation, Surveying and Overseeing, Research and
Development, Education and Training, etc,. Each type of work has its own distinctive
character and offers opportunities for initiative and imagination in a wide variety of technical
and managerial posts. The work place may be a large company, a small group, a consultancy
or a government department, but their scopes are wide.
As a Coastal engineer, they are dealing with the dynamic interaction of oceans and
its shore by developing shore protection systems like breakwaters, jetties, etc., and designing
harbours, ports, etc., and also dealing with civil engineering issues in the coastal
environment. As an Offshore engineer, they design structures like steel jacket structures,
concrete gravity platforms, tension-leg platforms, etc., which are capable of withstanding the
severe ocean environment. As an Environmental Engineer, they have to protect the oceans
from the harmful effects of mankind's activities. Also involve in harvesting and/or utilizing
the oceanic resources such as minerals, wave energy, thermal energy and tidal power.
Depending mainly on the type of qualifications held and personal inclination,
Ocean Engineers may become specialists in one field or develop broad experience in several.
Eventually they may find themselves in senior executive positions using their knowledge and
experience of general management as well as their professional skills in engineering and
project leadership. Indeed, aided by the breadth of their education, training and experience,
the professional Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers are even successful in top
management positions in government, industry and commerce quite outside the offshorefield.
Main Areas of Scope:
There are lots of opportunities for Ocean Engineers and Naval Architects in the
private, educational, corporate, and governmental sectors. Some career areas to consider are:
Offshore Oil Recovery, Marine metals and corrosion, Environmental Protection, Global
Climate Monitoring, Renewable Energy, Underwater Vehicles, Remote Sensing, Marine
Transportation, or Naval Architecture and Defence. Therefore, some main areas of scope are:
Design Office:
Ocean Engineers are by necessity innovative and creative personalities. They must
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have an understanding of the many facets of offshore structure design such as its function,
appearance and especially importance at sea safety. They must be team leaders, able to
integrate the inputs of many others to achieve a balanced and coherent whole. As a Naval
Architect, apart from the architectural aspects of ship form and layout, they must be able to
use complex mathematical and physical models to ensure that the design is satisfactory
technically and that it meets the safety rules and standards laid down by ClassificationSocieties and Government Agencies. Since, the design process demands the extensive
employment of computer based information and communication systems, Ocean engineers
should also be well versed in computer software knowledge. As a Design office employee,
they are employed by ship and boat builders, offshore constructors, design consultants, and
for the ships and submarines of the Navy, the Ministry of Defence. Major equipment
manufacturers also employ teams of engineers, including Naval Architects and Ocean
engineers on the design of such products as propulsion systems, auxiliary systems, sub sea
production systems and control systems.
Field Engineer:
The task of the ship and boat builder and offshore constructor is to convert
drawings and detailed specifications into real structures. A Naval Architect and Ocean
Engineers specialising in construction usually holds a management post, taking responsibility
for the management of the whole yard/site or for sections of it such as planning, production
or the complex operation of fitting out. There should continuously strive to make construction
work efficient through the adoption of new processes and practices and by better training for
the work force. The Ocean Engineers must also organise the supply of materials and
components, inspection and testing as well as the vital resources of manpower.
Repair work has much in common with construction. Ocean Engineers and Naval
Architects in this field can become professional managers in future, who like the builders
need to master modern management and associated techniques. Emergency repair work often
offers opportunities for ingenuity and on-the-spot improvisation, and in the offshore
engineering world in particular repair frequently involves underwater technology. Therefore,
as a site engineer, they are employed in construction and repair include both large and small
shipbuilders and repairers, and those involved in the maintenance and repair of naval ships,
submarines, harbours, ports and other offshore structures.
Consultant:
As consultants, Ocean Engineers and Naval Architects provide clients with
engineering solutions, technical and commercial guidance and project management for concept design studies, new offshore structure developments, new vessel constructions, refits
and conversions. Therefore, they are employed to give professional advice and technical
support to customers of the offshore industry.
Ship Surveyor:
Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers employed by Classification Societies as
Ship Surveyors are engaged world-wide in evaluating the safety of ships and marine
structures using the Society's Rules and those of intergovernmental organisations such as theInternational Maritime Organisation. Plans of ships to be built and eventually classed with the
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Society are scrutinised, and aspects of design such as strength, stability, and lifesaving
approved before construction. Also during construction, Ship Surveyors carry out inspections
to ensure that the quality of the workmanship and materials used is in accordance with the
Rules and Regulations. Once the vessel or structure is in service, Ship Surveyors will
continue to carry out inspections to ensure that any serious defects arising from operation are
made good and that a safe and seaworthy structure is maintained. Government Departmentsemploy Naval Architects who deal mainly with the framing of safety regulations and the
surveying of ships and equipment from the safety point of view.
Research and Development:
Offshore research, in general, enjoys a high reputation world-wide. The Naval
Architects and Ocean Engineers, many with post-graduate qualifications, are engaged in
research in universities and industry throughout the world. Classification Societies also
devote resources to Research and Development employing Naval Architects in this field.
Because of lack of data in the discipline, the scientists in the field of Ocean engineering and
Naval architecture are enjoying high esteem world-wide.This variety of work provides a rewarding challenge to the Ocean Engineers and
Naval Architects, not only as engineers but also as managers, consultants, surveyors,
scientists, etc.
Institutes offering Course:
The various institutes in India providing Bachelor and Master degree in Ocean
Engineering and Naval Architecture are as follows:
Conclusion:
It is a new field and is making tremendous advancements. It is our only frontier --we know less about the oceans than we do about the moon -- so it is new and extremely
S.No. Institutes Offered Courses
1 Indian Institute of Technology Madras,
Chennai – 600 036.
Ocean Engg. and Naval
Architecture
2 Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur,Kharagpur – 721 302.
B.Tech.- Ocean Engg. and Naval Architecture M.
Tech. - Ocean Engg. and
Naval Architecture
3 National Institute of Technology Surathkal,
Mangalore 575025.
M.Tech in Marine Structures
4 National Institute of Technology Calicut,
Calicut - 673 601.
M.Tech in Offshore Structures
5 Cochin University of Science and
Technology, Cochin.
M.Tech in Ocean Technology
6 Chennai School Of Ship Management,Mambakkam, Chennai – 600 048. Diploma programme inMarine engineering
7 College of Engineering (Autonomous),
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam –
530003.
B.E. Naval Architecture
M.E. Hydraulic, Coastal &
Harbour Engineering
8 Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, Vasco
da Gama, Goa - 403 802.
Four year diploma
programme in Shipbuilding
Engineering
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rewarding. Be it engineering, marine biology, marine chemistry, just about any ocean science
or engineering is truly on the frontier. There is so much we have yet to learn about our
oceans. Therefore, it is for sure that the career opportunities in this field will absolutely
increase further. There are not enough ocean scientists or engineers to meet all the demands
of day. Also, the tomorrow’s greatest discoveries in science, medicine and life knowledge
will come from the oceans.
The Author is Lecturer (Senior Scale), Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi- 110042. E-mail :
sanbukumar@dce.ac.in
Author:S. Anbukumar