Chief Engineer
The Chief Engineer is responsible for everything on the yacht that moves, pumps, cools, generates or floods. On a small yacht that means doing the work yourself. On a large one it means leading a team, planning a refit and arguing a budget with management. If the yacht breaks down with guests aboard, it lands on you.
The jobWhat fills the day
The job covers main engines, generators, watermakers, sewage plant, air conditioning, hydraulics, stabilisers, fuel and the tenders, plus the electrical side if there is no ETO. You run the planned maintenance system, keep spares stocked, order parts, manage contractors and keep class and flag surveys on track. You also keep the engine room records that a surveyor or Port State inspector will ask to see, and you sign off bunkering. Paperwork takes a bigger share of the week than most new chiefs expect.
With guests aboard the priority is simple: nothing fails, and if it does, nobody upstairs notices. You keep the generators running quietly at anchor, the air conditioning steady, the watermaker making fresh water and the toys and tenders ready for the deck crew. Big jobs wait for the shipyard period. On a 35m yacht you will change oil and unblock heads yourself. On an 80m yacht you plan the work, check it and deal with the captain and the manager.
Owners and captains hire chiefs on three things: the right MCA Certificate of Competency for the yacht's tonnage and power, a record of staying on board for more than one season, and a referee who will say the yacht never missed a trip. Experience with the specific engine make, MTU, Caterpillar or MAN, helps a great deal. Refit experience is valued because the chief often runs the technical side of a yard period at Palma, La Ciotat or in the Netherlands.
Most chiefs come up through the ranks over seven to ten years, moving from junior engineer to third, second and first, collecting sea time and Y-tickets along the way. Many start on small yachts as sole engineer with a Y4 and move up in size as their tickets allow. From chief, the usual next steps are a larger yacht, a rotation, a new build project or a shore job as a technical yacht manager or superintendent.
Skills captains look for
- Diesel and generator maintenance
- Planned maintenance systems
- Electrical fault finding
- HVAC and refrigeration
- Refit and yard management
- Budgeting and spares control
- Team leadership
A day aboardGuest trip, 65m motor yacht, at anchor off Porto Cervo
Engine room rounds with the second engineer. Check generator loads, watermaker output, bilges and the sewage plant before guests wake.
Breakfast in the crew mess and a quick word with the bosun about which tenders and toys are wanted today.
Morning meeting with the captain. Agree fuel figures for tomorrow's passage to Corsica and flag a slow leak on a stabiliser seal.
Service the jet ski that came back running rough yesterday, then hand it back to the deck team before lunch.
Lunch. Read through parts quotes from the agent in Olbia.
Chase a guest cabin air conditioning fault with the ETO. A failed fan contactor, swapped from spares within the hour.
Update the planned maintenance system, log running hours and order the stabiliser seal kit to meet the yacht in Bonifacio.
Dinner, then off watch while the third engineer takes evening rounds.
Last check of the engine room and alarms before handing over to the night watch.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Most chiefs on 50m+ work rotation, often 2:2 or 3:1 months, with full pay continuing on leave. Charter tips add to take-home on charter yachts, and bonuses for a clean refit or survey are common. See the Engineer salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- MCA Y4 to Y1 or Unlimited Chief Engineer CoC to suit tonnage and kW
- Advanced Fire Fighting
Gets you hired
- Medical First Aid
- HELM (Management)
- Ship Security Officer
- Manufacturer courses for MTU, Caterpillar or MAN
- Refrigeration F-Gas certificate
Visas
- Schengen visa where required
- US C1/D crew visa
- B1/B2 for US yard periods
Where it leadsA typical career path
Chief Engineer jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Which ticket do I need to be a Chief Engineer?
It depends on the yacht's gross tonnage and propulsion power. A Y4 lets you be chief on small yachts, and Y3, Y2 and Y1 take you up in size and kW. Above 3000gt or beyond Y1 limits you need a full Unlimited Chief Engineer CoC.
Can I go straight to chief as a sole engineer?
Yes, and many people do. Sole engineer on a 30-40m yacht is a chief's job on a small scale, and two good seasons there with solid references is a recognised route onto a larger yacht.
Do chief engineers get rotation?
On most yachts over 50m, yes. Ratios of 2:2 or 3:1 months are common, and you share the post with a second chief who covers your leave.
Is refit experience essential?
It is not always required, but it makes you far more employable. Owners and managers want a chief who can write a yard specification, control contractors and keep the yacht on budget and on time.