Programme highlights
Take the next step in your career and become a marine engineering officer.
This programme is ideal for you if you are a marine engineer looking to progress to more senior roles or move to larger vessels.
Gain the skills and knowledge required to operate and maintain engine room and auxiliary equipment to Marine Engineer Class 4 (MEC4) or Marine Engineer Class 3 (MEC 3) standards under the Maritime New Zealand Seafarer Certification and Operational Limits Framework. You will get hands-on experience with practical on-site workshops and sea time onboard a ship.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have been advised that you will receive a Recognition of Prior Knowledge and Skills (RPKS) towards your sea time, this will incur a fee of $36 per credit. For more information please visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.
This qualification leads to a Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) certificate. Expand for more detail.
You need to complete this qualification including sea time before applying to Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) for a:
There are two options for sea time requirements:
- Option 1: 12 months sea time and your MNZ approved Training Record Book (TRB); or
- Option 2 (already in industry): At least 36 months experience working as an Engine Watch Rating (EWR). For more information on this study option, please contact NZ Maritime School.
Award of the MNZ MEC 4 or MEC 3 certificates of competency will also require the completion of:
- Sea service
- MNZ medical fitness certificate
- Eyesight test (including for colour vision)
- Fit and proper person check
- Final exam
- Ancillary certificates.
See maritimenz.govt.nz for all requirements needed before you apply.
Completion of the MEC 3 certificate of competency means you can work as an engineering officer on vessels anywhere in the world. You could find work on a foreign-going cruise liner, cargo ship, oil and chemical tanker ship, ferry, container ship or support vessel. MEC 3 is an internationally recognised programme, meeting the standards of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) STCW code (Standard for Training and Certification for Watchkeepers), (regulation STCW A-III/1).
Entry requirements
General
Applicants must have completed the academic component of the New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Crewing – Able Seafarer Engine strand (L4) (NZ2511-03)
Provide evidence of sea service required for the Watchkeeper certificate of competency as per the STCW code.
Academic
Applicants with no seafaring experience:
- 14 credits in either Mathematics (calculus, algebra or equivalent) and / or physics at NCEA Level 2.
International students: English language entry requirements
For the minimum English language requirements refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/
International students will generally be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency, for this programme an IELTS General or Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 is required. Equivalent acceptable evidence can be seen at the following NZQA link: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/nzqf-related-rules/the-table/
Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?
Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.
Programme structure
You will need to complete the below 41 compulsory courses (300 credits):
Compulsory courses
Year one
Level 2
942.212 STCW Basic Safety Training – Basic Sea Survival (5 credits)
Apply safe and sustainable work practices and contribute to effective communication and emergency response on board a vessel.
942.213 STCW Basic Safety Training – Basic First Aid (5 credits)
Apply safe work practices and contribute to effective communication and emergency response to first aid on board a vessel.
942.214 STCW Basic Safety Training – Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (3 credits)
Apply safe and sustainable work practices, demonstrate effective communication and emergency response on board a vessel.
942.215 Proficiency in Security Awareness (2 credits)
Providing knowledge, understanding and proficiency to personnel intending to work on ships who will not have any designated security duties.
Level 4
942.459 STCW Basic Safety Training – Basic Fire Fighting (5 credits)
Apply safe work practices and contribute to effective communication and emergency response to fire on board a vessel.
942.474 Engineering Watchkeeping 1 – Practicum (15 credits)
To ensure students are able to distinguish, initiate and implement best practice watch keeping practices on board vessels they serve on.
942.475 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Operation – Practicum (5 credits)
To apply student’s theoretical, technical and practical knowledge of electrical, electronic and control engineering equipment and systems on board vessels.
Level 5
942.593 Marine Engineering Maths (10 credits)
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand physical principles underlying the behaviour of the ship and its environment and technical specifications and instructions for unfamiliar equipment.
942.594 Mechanical Technology 1 (15 credits)
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to apply the principles of Mechanics to enable understanding of the physical principals underlying the behaviour of the ship and its environment and the functioning of equipment upon which to build professional studies.
942.595 Thermodynamics (10 credits)
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand the physical principals underlying the behaviour of the ship and its environment and the functioning of equipment upon which to build professional studies.
Year two
Level 4
942.473 Engineering Watchkeeping 1 (10 credits)
The aim of this course is to ensure students have the skills, knowledge and competency to manage safety of an engineering watch.
Level 5
942.586 Engineering Watchkeeping 1 – Practicum (5 credits)
To ensure students are able to distinguish, initiate and implement best practice watch keeping practices on board vessels they serve on.
942.587 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Operation (15 credits)
On successful completion of this course the student will be able to understand basic configuration and operation principles of electrical, electronic and control equipment.
942.588 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Operation – Practicum (10 credits)
To apply student’s theoretical, technical and practical knowledge of electrical, electronic and control engineering equipment and systems on board vessels.
942.589 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Maintenance and Repair 1 (15 credits)
To develop students’ capability to maintain and repair marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems whilst following safe operating procedures.
942.590 Technical Design Communications (10 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of ships electrical and electronic diagrams together with the interpretation of machinery drawings and handbooks.
942.591 Electrical and Electronic Maintenance – Practicum (5 credits)
To apply student’s theoretical, technical and practical knowledge of electrical, electronic and control engineering equipment and systems on board vessels.
942.592 Main and Auxiliary Machinery 1 (15 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of engine room plant and equipment and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s main propulsion plant and auxiliary equipment.
942.596 Main and Auxiliary Machinery 1 – Practicum (3 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of engine room plant and equipment and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s main propulsion plant and auxiliary equipment.
942.597 Fuel, Lubrication, Ballast and other Pumping Systems – Practicum (10 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of pumps and piping systems including control systems and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s auxiliary equipment.
942.598 Fuel, Lubrication, Ballast and other Pumping Systems (3 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of pumps and piping systems including control systems and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s auxiliary equipment.
942.599 Ship Construction (5 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of ship construction to maintain the structural seaworthiness of the ship.
943.547 Stability and Structure – Practicum (2 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of ship stability and stress to maintain the seaworthiness of the ship along with more specific knowledge of ship construction.
>943.548 Maintenance and Repair of Shipboard Machinery and Equipment – Part A (8 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of the maintenance and repair of shipboard machinery and equipment.
943.549 Maintenance and Repair of Shipboard Machinery and Equipment – Part B (7 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of the maintenance and repair of shipboard machinery and equipment.
943.550 Maintenance and Repair of Shipboard Machinery and Equipment – Practicum (2 credits)
To apply student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of the maintenance and repair of shipboard machinery and equipment.
Level 6
942.657 Ship Stability and Stress for Marine Engineers (10 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of ship stability and stress to maintain the seaworthiness of the ship.
Year three
Level 4
942.464 Proficiency in Survival Craft (PISC) (5 credits)
Operate survival craft and rescue boats.
942.477 Marine Dangerous Goods (5 credits)
To develop student’s knowledge of the principles involved in ship operations carrying hazardous cargoes in solid or bulk form.
Level 5
941.517 Fuel, Lubrication, Ballast and other Pumping Systems – Practicum (3 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of pumps and piping systems including control systems and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s auxiliary equipment.
942.585 Medical First Aid (5 credits)
To enable an appropriate medical response to be offered where professional care may be at least a week away.
Level 6
942.649 Advanced Fire Fighting (5 credits)
To direct fire-fighting operations on board a vessel.
942.650 Human Elements Leadership and Management (H.E.L.M.) (5 credits)
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate advanced overall knowledge to apply communication, teamwork, leadership, management of human tendencies to enable effective leadership at Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch operational level.
942.651 Main and Auxiliary Machinery 2 (25 credits)
To ensure students develop a depth of theoretical and practical knowledge of a vessels main and auxiliary plant and equipment that enables them to efficiently plan and schedule technical operational and maintenance requirements of a vessel.
942.652 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Operation – Practicum (10 credits)
To apply student’s theoretical, technical and practical knowledge of electrical, electronic and control engineering equipment and systems on board vessels.
942.653 Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Maintenance and Repair 2 (5 credits)
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of electrical system testing.
942.654 Electrical and Electronic Maintenance – Practicum (5 credits)
To apply students’ knowledge and understanding of marine electrical and electronic equipment and systems to ensure safe operating procedures are followed whilst on board the vessel.
942.655 Main and Auxiliary Machinery 2 – Practicum (4 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of engine room plant and equipment and apply that to the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s main propulsion plant and auxiliary equipment.
942.658 Stability and Structure – Practicum (3 credits)
To apply the student’s theoretical and practical knowledge of ship stability and stress to maintain the seaworthiness of the ship along with practical application of the knowledge of ship construction.
942.659 Maintenance and Repair of Shipboard Machinery and Equipment – Practicum (5 credits)
To apply a student’s theoretical and practical knowledge in the maintenance and repair of shipboard machinery and equipment.
942.660 Pollution Prevention and Maritime Legislation (5 credits)
To develop student’s theoretical knowledge of pollution prevention of the marine environment requirements and the monitoring of compliance with IMO conventions concerning the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.
942.661 Orals Preparation (5 credits)
To prepare students to meet the final examination requirements for the issue of a MEC3 or MEC 4 Certificate of Competency by Maritime New Zealand.
Optional courses
942.476 Basic Oil and Chemicals (5 credits)
This course provides students with the knowledge, understanding and proficiency to serve on oil- and chemical tankers and be assigned specific duties and responsibilities related to cargo or cargo equipment.
942.731 Crisis Management and Human Behaviour (5 credits)
To develop the student’s level of competence in dealing with passengers in a crisis or emergency situation in accordance with their capacity, duties and responsibilities.
943.551 High Voltage at Operational Level (5 credits)
To develop students’ capability to operate, maintain & troubleshoot High Voltage marine installations safely & efficiently.
Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?
Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.
Further training or study
Graduates of this qualification can progress to courses leading to the Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) Marine Engineer Class 2 (MEC 2) or Marine Engineer Class 1 (MEC 1) certificates of competency.
Career opportunities
MEC 4: Marine chief engineering officer on coastal vessels.
MEC 3: Marine engineering officer on foreign-going ships.
For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.
