Engine minder
Also known as: canal boat crew member, canal narrowboat crew member, barge engine minder, narrow boat engine minder, ship engine operator, engine minder on vessels
About this occupation
Engine minders perform work related to the deck department of an inland water transport vessel. They use their experience on-board a motorised inland navigation vessel as an ordinary crewmember and have a basic knowledge of engines.
Essential skills and knowledge
- principles of mechanical engineering
- detect malfunctions in engines
- prepare main engines for navigation operations
- prevent damage to electrical devices on board
- execute safety assurance exercises
- moor vessels
- prepare equipment for navigation operations
- monitor pumping system operations
- prepare engine room for operation
- electrical systems used in transportation
- evaluate engine performance
- maintain vessel engine room
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Sailors and Marine Oilers (O*NET 53-5011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
- Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
- Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
- Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
- Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
- Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing
US median pay: US$51,520 a year (2025), 31,670 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.2)
- GeographyO*NET: GeographyImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
- Ship Engineers
- Riggers
- Motorboat Operators
- Dredge Operators
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Crane and Tower Operators
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.