Marine Surveyor
What the work is
Surveys the machinery, equipment and hulls of vessels to ensure they are constructed, equipped and maintained according to safety standards, rules and regulations laid down by marine authorities.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Inspects and examines vessels and equipment to ensure compliance with international and national regulations, and identifies any damage or defects
- Reviews and interprets technical drawings, plans and specifications related to ship construction
- Conducts surveys and inspections during construction, repair or maintenance
- Assesses damage to vessels on behalf of insurance companies for insurance claims
- Tests and evaluates ship systems such as navigation and communication
- Documents survey findings and recommendations, evaluating the vessel's overall condition
- Advises ship owners, operators and builders on compliance issues
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a working vessel at a fictional regional port, with a bridge, an engine room and a deck crew. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A smooth arrival into a tight berth with the crew working together
- You find and fix an engine problem before it becomes a breakdown at sea
- A calm sunrise at sea after a night when everything ran the way it should
Hard days
- Weather closes in and plans change faster than you can communicate them
- Weeks away from home, and missing family events that cannot be moved
- A surveyor or port inspector finds a fault you hoped was not there
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 313433, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.