Duties of 4th Engineer in the Merchant Navy
4th Engineers or 3rd Assistant Engineers are officers in the engine department of a ship. Trainee Marine Engineers after completing their required sea time are eligible to appear for the MEO Class IV exams. After successfully clearing these exams they can board a ship as a Junior Engineer and are further promoted to the rank of a 4th Engineer after gaining some experience onboard. In this blog, we will deep dive into the duties of a 4th Engineer in the Merchant Navy.
To get promotion to 4th Engineer, a Trainee Marine Engineer has to clear MEO Class IV for which he should have all the concepts clear whether theoretical or practical. Even after that there are very few engine cadets who can clear MEO Class IV in the first attemt. What they lack in is not preparation but guidance and for the engineers who need guidance in their journey to clear MEO class IV, Merchant Navy Decoded has launched MEO Class IV preparatory course for engineers who wants to clear MEO Class IV.
General Duties of 4th Engineer in Merchant Navy
- 4th Engineers must keep the Chief Engineer fully informed about any concerns regarding their responsibilities.
- 4th Engineers have to carry out watchkeeping as per the schedule and assist in the engine room during maneuvering.
- They are further responsible for the performance of cargo-related machinery and systems – ballast water treatment systems, ballast system valves and pumps, cranes/gantries, auxiliary engines, etc.
- Performing other duties as directed by the seniors.
Maintenance Duties of 4th Engineer in Merchant Navy
4th Engineers have to personally supervise and carry out the maintenance and repair of :
- Main, auxiliary, and emergency compressors and control air systems.
- Fuel oil and lube oil purifiers and filters.
- Fuel transfer system and equipment.
- The sewage treatment plant, pumps, and piping system.
- Other auxiliary machinery in the engine room.
- Testing of engine room blowers and funnel flaps.
- 4th Engineers have to maintain the planned maintenance schedules and machinery history records.
- They need to take inventory and prepare requisitions for spare parts for equipment under their charge.
- They also have to assist in fuel and lube oil transfers and maintain records.
- 4th Engineers also have to assist in bunkering.
- They also have to assist in fuel and lube oil transfers and maintain records.
- 4th Engineers also have to assist in bunkering.
Key Performance Duties
In addition to the duties mentioned above a 4th Engineer also has to take care of the following things:-
- No overdue maintenance or testing of critical machinery/equipment in PMS in own areas of responsibility.
- No critical machinery/equipment is inoperative in its own areas of responsibility.
- No critical safeties inoperative or bypassed for any machinery/equipment in own areas of responsibility.
- No spares to be below minimum and critical spares requirement in own areas of responsibility.
4th Engineer Salary in Merchant Navy
4th Engineers are the junior officer in the engine department. Hence, they are paid a lesser salary compared to their senior officer. However, it doesn’t mean that they do not get highly paid. The average salary of most 4th Engineers sailing in different types of vessels is around 2500$ – 4200$.
4th Engineer Salary in Merchant Navy in LNG/LPG Tankers
LNG/LPG Tankers offer the highest salaries in the merchant navy to sailing seafarers. These tankers carry high-value commodities such as butane, propane, compressed natural gas, etc. The machinery onboard these vessels is really complicated therefore the salary is also high. 4th Engineers sailing onboard these tankers are paid in the range of 3500$ – 4200$ per month.
4th Engineer Salary in Merchant Navy in Chemical Tankers
Chemical Tankers carry hazardous cargo such as tallow, methanol, caustic soda, sulphuric acid, etc. There are a lot of risks involved in handling such cargo. Chemical tankers also offer really high salaries to seafarers working onboard them. 4th Engineers sailing onboard Chemical Tankers are paid around 3500$ – 4000$ per month.
4th Engineer Salary in Merchant Navy in Crude Oil/Product Tankers
Crude Oil Tankers are vessels that carry unrefined crude oil while Product Tankers are vessels that carry clean petroleum products such as gasoline, naphtha, etc. Both these vessels offer almost the same amount of salary. 4th Engineers sailing onboard these tankers are paid in the range of 2800$ – 3800$ per month.
4th Engineer Salary in Merchant Navy in Bulk Carriers/Container Ships
Dry ships such as Bulk Carriers and Container Ships pay relatively lesser salaries compared to Tankers to its employees. Bulk carriers carry unpackaged dry goods such as coal, grain, ore, etc. While Container ships carry manufactured goods such as machinery, furniture, footwear, garments, etc. 4th Engineers sailing in Bulk Carriers/Container Ships are paid in the range of 2400$ – 3600$ per month.
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I read this blog and it gave me a clear vision about 4th engineer. And also I wish to know that which kind of opportunities are going to be opened after becoming a chief engineer at shore? How much they get paid after becoming a technical supritendent and what is your personal thought about shore job as you’re a chief engineer 😍
Hi Shubham watch this video you will get your answer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxpamasV4lA&t=605s
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A perfect blog which give me a clear vision of 4th engineer on ship thankyou sir.