Course Overview
This course develops the management-level competencies required of a Second Engineer Officer and Chief Engineer Officer under STCW Regulation III/2, Table A-III/2, Function 1 (Marine Engineering at Management Level). Building on operational-level knowledge acquired at the Fourth-Class Certificate level, the course focuses on the analysis, evaluation, and management of propulsion plant and auxiliary machinery performance. Students will develop the ability to assess machinery operating parameters against design limits, interpret performance data from indicator diagrams, sea-trial records, and condition-monitoring systems, and formulate operational and maintenance strategies based on that analysis. The course covers fuel and lubricant quality management, systematic fault diagnosis across all major machinery systems, evaluation and optimization of automatic control systems, analysis of propulsive characteristics under varying service conditions, and management of refrigeration and air-conditioning plant performance. Simulator-based exercises are used as analytical tools, requiring students to interpret system behavior, evaluate the consequences of abnormal operating conditions, and develop management-level responses.
Prerequisite(s)
- Transport Canada, STCW Fourth-Class Motor Marine Engineering Certificate of Competency
Credits
12.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate fuel and lubricant quality data from laboratory analyses and onboard testing, assess the implications for machinery performance and reliability, and formulate management strategies for fuel treatment, lubricant condition control, and contamination mitigation. (STCW A-III/2, Function 1; MC 7.02 §1.2.6)
- Analyze the design basis, safety interlocks, and system interdependencies governing start-up and shutdown of main propulsion machinery (diesel, steam turbine, gas turbine), auxiliary prime movers, boilers, and associated systems, and assess the adequacy of documented procedures and checklists against manufacturer and classification requirements. (MC 7.02 §1.3.1)
- Interpret machinery operating parameters, indicator diagrams, performance curves, and condition-monitoring data to evaluate the performance of main and auxiliary machinery against design limits, diagnose root causes of abnormal conditions, and determine corrective and preventive actions at management level. (MC 7.02 §1.3.2, 1.3.3)
- Apply systematic fault-diagnosis methodologies to identify, analyze, and resolve machinery malfunctions across propulsion, auxiliary, and safety-critical systems, including assessment of emergency operating conditions and formulation of management decisions for continued safe operation. (MC 7.02 §1.3.3.8–9)
- Analyze the configuration, function, and performance of automatic control systems for main engines, boilers, steam and gas turbines, purifiers, refrigeration plant, and auxiliary machinery, and evaluate control strategies, protective functions, and alarm management under normal and degraded conditions. (MC 7.02 §1.3.4, 1.3.5)
- Evaluate the performance and condition of major auxiliary systems — compressed air, hydraulic power, heat exchangers, evaporators, and thermal-fluid systems — and assess maintenance requirements, operating limits, and failure modes using data-driven analysis and manufacturer specifications. (MC 7.02 §1.3.3.11, 1.3.3.12, 1.3.3.24–25)
- Assess the performance of marine refrigeration and air-conditioning systems through analysis of operating parameters, refrigerant-management data, and system behavior, and evaluate fault conditions, environmental-compliance requirements, and optimization strategies. (MC 7.02 §1.2.5, 1.3.5.4)
- Analyze the propulsive characteristics of diesel, steam turbine, and gas turbine plants using load diagrams, propeller curves, and sea-trial data, and evaluate the effects of service conditions on engine performance to inform operational decision-making. (MC 7.02 §1.2.3)
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2026
Related Programs
Operation, Surveillance & Performance Assessment of Machinery (MEOC 6130) is offered as a part of the following programs:
School of Transportation
- Marine Engineering
Advanced Diploma Full-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.