23/10/2026
If youโre an engine cadet starting your first contract, listen carefully. These lessons can help you become a better cadet, earn the trust of your senior engineers, and prepare yourself for the responsibilities of becoming a marine engineer.
Here are 5 more important lessons every engine cadet should learn. ๐
1. SAFETY FIRSTโNEVER PRETEND YOU KNOW WHAT YOUโRE DOING. ๐ฆบ
The engine room is not a place to show off.
You may be asked to assist with maintenance, inspect machinery, handle tools, or observe equipment in operation. But remember, being willing to learn doesnโt mean taking unnecessary risks.
Never operate machinery, open valves, enter enclosed spaces, or perform maintenance without proper authorization and instruction.
Do this: Before starting any job, make sure you understand the instructions, hazards, and required personal protective equipment (PPE).
If you donโt understand something, speak up.
If you havenโt been trained, ask for guidance.
If something feels unsafe, stop and report it to your supervisor.
Remember: A good cadet doesnโt prove how brave he is. He proves that he understands the importance of safety. โ ๏ธ
2. LEARN THE PURPOSE OF EVERY MACHINE YOU SEE. โ๏ธ
Donโt just walk around the engine room looking at machines without understanding what they do.
Every piece of equipment has a purpose.
Why does the main engine need a lubrication system?
Why do we use cooling water?
What is the purpose of a fuel oil purifier?
Why do air compressors supply starting air?
What happens if a pump loses suction?
These are the kinds of questions that help you develop your engineering knowledge.
Do this: Every day, choose one piece of machinery and learn five things about it:
๐น Its purpose
๐น Its main components
๐น How it operates
๐น Its common problems
๐น Its safety precautions
Ask an engineer to explain the equipment using the actual machine whenever practical and safe.
Then review your notes after your watch.
Donโt try to learn the entire engine room in one day.
Learn one machine at a time, and eventually, the whole engine room will start making sense. ๐ก
3. NEVER TOUCH A VALVE OR SWITCH JUST BECAUSE YOUโRE CURIOUS. ๐จ
As a cadet, curiosity is good.
But uncontrolled curiosity can be dangerous.
A valve may control fuel, lubricating oil, cooling water, steam, compressed air, or another system. An electrical switch may control equipment that someone else is working on.
One wrong action can cause serious injury, equipment damage, or an interruption to essential shipboard operations.
Do this: Before touching any valve, switch, or control:
โ
Understand what it controls.
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Ask the responsible engineer for permission.
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Follow the shipโs procedures.
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Check that the action is safe and authorized.
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Never operate equipment outside your training or authority.
If maintenance is in progress, respect warning signs, isolation procedures, and lockout/tagout arrangements where applicable.
Remember: Looking is learning. Asking is learning. Unauthorized operation is not learning.
A responsible cadet knows the difference. โ๏ธ
4. LEARN TO ACCEPT CORRECTIONS WITHOUT GETTING OFFENDED. ๐ง
Nobody joins a ship knowing everything.
You will make mistakes. You will forget things. Sometimes, an engineer will correct you in front of other crew members.
Donโt let your pride prevent you from learning.
When a senior engineer corrects you, focus on understanding what went wrong and how to do it correctly next time.
Do this: When someone corrects your work:
๐น Listen before explaining yourself.
๐น Ask what you should do differently.
๐น Correct the mistake safely.
๐น Write down the lesson if itโs useful.
๐น Make an effort not to repeat the same mistake.
Of course, correction should never be an excuse for bullying, harassment, or unsafe treatment.
But when someone gives you legitimate feedback, use it to improve yourself.
Your ego wonโt make you a better engineer. Your willingness to improve will. ๐ช
5. USE YOUR CADET TRAINING RECORD BOOK PROPERLY. ๐
Your training record book is not just something you complete when your contract is almost finished.
Itโs an important part of your development as a future marine engineer.
Donโt wait until the last minute to remember everything youโve seen and done during your time on board.
Do this: Make a habit of reviewing your training requirements regularly.
For every task or topic you study:
๐น Understand the theory behind it.
๐น Observe the procedure when authorized.
๐น Ask questions about anything you donโt understand.
๐น Record your experience accurately.
๐น Complete the required assessments and obtain verification from the appropriate officer.
Never sign off a task you havenโt completed or understood as required.
Your goal is not simply to finish the book.
Your goal is to develop the knowledge and practical competence expected of a future engineer.
Remember: A completed record book is important, but the knowledge you carry in your head is even more valuable. ๐ข
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โ๏ธ A MESSAGE TO ALL ENGINE CADETS
Your first contract will teach you lessons that no classroom can fully reproduce.
Youโll learn how to work with different personalities, handle pressure, respect procedures, maintain discipline, and understand the machinery that keeps a ship running.
Some days will be difficult.
Some jobs will be tiring.
Some lessons will require patience.
But every day is an opportunity to become better than you were yesterday.
Donโt rush to become a second engineer before youโve learned how to be a good cadet.
Donโt be ashamed of doing basic work.
Donโt be afraid to ask questions.
And never sacrifice safety just to impress your seniors.
Be humble enough to learn, disciplined enough to improve, and responsible enough to work safely.
One day, the cadet who is observing the machinery today may be the engineer responsible for operating it tomorrow.
Make sure youโre preparing yourself for that responsibility.
โ Stay humble. Work safely. Learn continuously. Become a better engineer every day. โ๏ธ๐ข
Good luck to all engine cadets! May you have a safe, successful, and meaningful journey at sea. ๐ช
