A Marine Engineer's Path from Lobster Boats to Offshore Tankers
Barry Oliver in Setúbal, Portugal during the Beothuk Spirit's 5 year drydocking in August 2022.
Barry Oliver’s journey from the shores of the Bay of Fundy to becoming a third engineer aboard a shuttle tanker offshore Newfoundland is one shaped by a lifetime of hands-on experience. Growing up in a family of fishermen, Oliver was no stranger to the sea.
In this Q&A, he reflects on his career path, from his early days in the fishing industry to his current role maintaining critical machinery aboard a vessel that plays a key role in transporting oil between offshore platforms and the mainland. Join us as we explore his experiences, challenges, and the essential role he plays in ensuring vessels are operating safely and efficiently.
In this Q&A, he reflects on his career path, from his early days in the fishing industry to his current role maintaining critical machinery aboard a vessel that plays a key role in transporting oil between offshore platforms and the mainland. Join us as we explore his experiences, challenges, and the essential role he plays in ensuring vessels are operating safely and efficiently.
Q: Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
I am from Parkers Cove, a little fishing community on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, and this is where I grew up. My family have lived in the area for many generations, most of whom have been fishermen with lobster being the main fishery. This is still what my parents do. I started fishing with my father and grandfather the summer I turned 12; I was out on the boat with them on weekends, in the summer or whenever I wasn’t in school. Once I was in high school, I started working at the local fish plant after school while still being out lobster fishing whenever I could. I graduated high school in 2013 and enrolled that fall at The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University in St. John’s Newfoundland to start the 4-year Marine Engineering Program. I finished the course in the spring of 2017, wrote my 4th Class Engineer Certificate of Competency (COC) the next week and two days after obtaining it I was off to sea on my first job. Fast forward 7 and a half years later and I have just recently completed my 1st Class Engineer COC, the highest Marine Engineering Certification in Canada.
Q: Can you share your journey to becoming a marine engineer? How did your experiences shape your career path since 2017?
The Beothuk Spirit anchored in St. Mary's Bay Newfoundland with one of her sister ships in the foreground.
Having grown up on the water, I’ve always known that a career on land was not for me. I guess I’ve always felt drawn to the water. The decision was ultimately what I wanted to do for a career at sea. Originally when I began thinking about a career at sea, I was thinking I would want to work as a Mate and someday work my way up to be a Captain. However, after researching and finding more out about the industry, I realized that being an engineer would be a better fit for me. Growing up I have always enjoyed working with my hands, building and fixing things, whether it be working on vehicles, helping my dad maintain the lobster boat or building things out of wood with my grandfather. This job is a great fit for “hands on” people.
Since starting my engineering career in 2017, I very quickly realized that it was indeed the right fit for me. I also quickly decided that I wanted to work my way up to the higher engineering positions onboard to take part in more planning and management. During the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to spend time in the 1st engineer position. Now having completed my 1st Class Engineer COC my goal is to put in the time and work my way up to chief engineer.
Q: As a 3rd Engineer with Altera Infrastructure, could you explain your key responsibilities? What does monitoring and maintaining the vessel’s machinery involve on a day-to-day basis?
As a 3rd engineer, I am responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of certain pieces of engine room equipment including; air compressors, boilers, fuel and lube oil purifiers, freshwater generators and engine room firefighting and lifesaving equipment. Part of overseeing these pieces of equipment is ensuring they are operating correctly, all alarms are functioning, and that sufficient spare parts are carried onboard to address any breakdowns and are on hand for planned maintenance. The maintenance ranges from simple oil changes to full overhaul and rebuilding, replacement of internal components and internal inspections on larger equipment, such as the boilers.
Q: Describe a typical workday for you.
When the vessel is loading oil at an offshore installation, the engine room is continually manned by an engineer and an oiler at all times. The engineer is required to stay in the engine control room during their watch so that they can quickly respond to any alarms or issues that arise while that vessel is in close proximity to an oil rig. This time is also a good opportunity to catch up on paperwork and get work permits ready for upcoming jobs. When on watches we work a 4-hour on and 8-hour off rotation. I normally work from 08:00 to 12:00 and 20:00 to 00:00.
When the vessel is in port discharging oil, some small maintenance tasks can be completed that will not affect the discharging of cargo. During this time, the engine room is also continuously manned by an engineer and an oiler to ensure that the cargo discharging equipment runs smoothly.
The best time for getting maintenance tasks completed is when the vessel is at anchor after discharging and before going offshore for the next load. During this time, the entire engine room staff are on “day work” meaning all engine room crew are working 08:00 until 17:30 or 18:00. This ensures there is the maximum number of people available in the engine room.
When the vessel is in port discharging oil, some small maintenance tasks can be completed that will not affect the discharging of cargo. During this time, the engine room is also continuously manned by an engineer and an oiler to ensure that the cargo discharging equipment runs smoothly.
The best time for getting maintenance tasks completed is when the vessel is at anchor after discharging and before going offshore for the next load. During this time, the entire engine room staff are on “day work” meaning all engine room crew are working 08:00 until 17:30 or 18:00. This ensures there is the maximum number of people available in the engine room.
Q: What are some of the most challenging situations you’ve encountered while troubleshooting machinery issues?
There is not one troubleshooting situation that stands out in my mind. Any time that I am troubleshooting a machinery issue I like to follow the same approach. First off you need to fully understand how the piece of equipment functions and what the normal operating parameters are; normal temperatures, pressures and even how it normally sounds are some examples. If you do not know how the piece of equipment operates normally then it will be extremely difficult to troubleshoot why it is operating incorrectly. You can use this knowledge to zero in on what exactly the issue with the machinery is; high or low temperature or pressure, excess noise or vibration are examples. Now you can start to brainstorm what would be the possible causes for this change in operation.
Always start with the easy and simple things and rule them out first. It could be as simple as a plugged line to a pressure gauge or a failed gauge that is giving you a false reading when there is really no issue with the machine at all. Keep working through all the possibilities that you can come up with until you find the solution. If you can’t find the solution don’t be afraid to ask for help. An important thing to remember when troubleshooting is to keep a clear mind. If you start to get frustrated walk away, take a break and come back to it.
Always start with the easy and simple things and rule them out first. It could be as simple as a plugged line to a pressure gauge or a failed gauge that is giving you a false reading when there is really no issue with the machine at all. Keep working through all the possibilities that you can come up with until you find the solution. If you can’t find the solution don’t be afraid to ask for help. An important thing to remember when troubleshooting is to keep a clear mind. If you start to get frustrated walk away, take a break and come back to it.
Q: In your experience, how does the role of a marine engineer evolve with increasing seniority?
First to clarify the onboard ranking system for engineers, with Altera Infrastructure (my workplace) the ranking goes as follows; 3rd, 2nd, 1st and then Chief, chief being the highest. Other companies use 4th, 3rd, 2nd and chief.
With increasing seniority your overall responsibility increases; you go from being the person who is asking questions to the person that needs to have the answers to the questions. In the 3rd and 2nd engineers’ positions you have specific equipment you are responsible for as well as other rank specific duties. In the 1st engineer position you are responsible for overseeing and planning the day-to-day operations of the engine room as well as the maintenance of more critical equipment, such as the main engine and steering gear. The higher your rank, the higher the importance of the machinery you are responsible for. Regardless of what rank you are working in; you are responsible for the safety of the ship and all crew. In the chief engineer's position, you are responsible for overseeing all the machinery onboard the ship as well as communication with the office, owners, third party contractors and regulatory bodies. You also oversee the ship’s budget and overall ordering including fuel, oils and all spare parts. In addition, with the Captain you are responsible for ensuring that the vessel adheres to all International and local maritime laws.
With increasing seniority your overall responsibility increases; you go from being the person who is asking questions to the person that needs to have the answers to the questions. In the 3rd and 2nd engineers’ positions you have specific equipment you are responsible for as well as other rank specific duties. In the 1st engineer position you are responsible for overseeing and planning the day-to-day operations of the engine room as well as the maintenance of more critical equipment, such as the main engine and steering gear. The higher your rank, the higher the importance of the machinery you are responsible for. Regardless of what rank you are working in; you are responsible for the safety of the ship and all crew. In the chief engineer's position, you are responsible for overseeing all the machinery onboard the ship as well as communication with the office, owners, third party contractors and regulatory bodies. You also oversee the ship’s budget and overall ordering including fuel, oils and all spare parts. In addition, with the Captain you are responsible for ensuring that the vessel adheres to all International and local maritime laws.
Q: What has your experience taught you about the importance of teamwork in the engine room?
The engine room of the Norse Spirit, sister ship to the Beothuk Spirit
Teamwork is crucial for the smooth operation of not just the engine room but for the ship as a whole. The goal at the end of the day is to get the ship where it needs to go on time smoothly and safely. Everyone in the engine room, regardless of their rank, has had different experiences throughout their career and can bring their own skills and knowledge to the table. This is extremely important to remember when you are first starting your career at sea. You are going to start at the bottom and the people in the higher positions will have more experience than you. Use this to your advantage and learn anything you can from them. This also goes back to the troubleshooting question; when troubleshooting you have an entire team available to help you. A good example of teamwork in the engine room is when a major cylinder overhaul is being performed on the main engine. This usually involves 5-6 engine room personnel working at different places on the engine at the same time. Some crew members are usually working in the crankcase (key component of an engine that houses the crankshaft, connecting rod and piston rod, and other vital parts. It's located in the middle of the engine, between the engine block and the oil sump) while others are working in the head area of the engine to maximize efficiency and have the least amount of down time possible for the vessel.
Q: What advice would you offer to aspiring marine engineers who are just starting their careers? Are there specific skills or experiences you believe are essential for success in this field?
One of Altera Infrastructure's heritage class shuttle tankers at sea.
The biggest piece of advice I would have for people just getting into the marine engineering profession or looking to get into it would be to show interest and ask questions. This is especially important if you’re a cadet. Most people will take the time to show and teach you the profession if you demonstrate interest and a willingness to learn. Another piece of advice would be to try and work on an old ship (or two) early in your career. New ships have the latest technology, but old ships are where you are going to get to see the most, put your troubleshooting skills to the test and ultimately help you learn the most.
One skill that would be an asset to someone looking to get into the marine engineering profession would be problem solving. Don’t be afraid to get dirty; there are definitely “dirty” jobs in the engine room! Experience working with your hands and tools would be an asset, but not critical as these are skills that can be learned. Another thing to keep in mind about a career at sea is that there are no set work hours onboard. A ship operates 24/7, and this is especially true when you are working in the higher ranks like Captain, Chief, Chief Mate and 1st Engineer. Even when you’re not working your normal hours you are on call all day in case you’re needed.
One skill that would be an asset to someone looking to get into the marine engineering profession would be problem solving. Don’t be afraid to get dirty; there are definitely “dirty” jobs in the engine room! Experience working with your hands and tools would be an asset, but not critical as these are skills that can be learned. Another thing to keep in mind about a career at sea is that there are no set work hours onboard. A ship operates 24/7, and this is especially true when you are working in the higher ranks like Captain, Chief, Chief Mate and 1st Engineer. Even when you’re not working your normal hours you are on call all day in case you’re needed.
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