BD Marine Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) study materials
BD Marine Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) study resources

BD Marine Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) study plan

BD Marine Engineer Class 1 (Chief Engineer) · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Marine Propulsion Machinery and Engine Room Systems

  • Diagram from memory the fuel injection, cooling, and lubrication circuits of a large two-stroke marine diesel engine, labeling major components and flow paths.

  • Explain the thermodynamic cycle and scavenging process of a slow-speed crosshead engine, including the role of the turbocharger and air cooler.

  • List and describe the safety devices and interlocks on the main propulsion engine, such as overspeed trip, low lube oil pressure trip, and crankcase mist detector.

  • Calculate indicated power, brake power, and specific fuel consumption from given engine data, showing all steps.

Your checkpoint

A hand-drawn schematic of the main engine fuel, cooling, and lubrication systems with a one-page written explanation of the scavenging and turbocharging process.

Week 2

Marine Propulsion Machinery and Engine Room Systems & Shipboard Electrical, Electronic and Control Engineering

  • Describe the construction and operation of marine boilers, including water-tube and fire-tube types, and their associated feed, fuel, and safety systems.

  • Explain the working of steering gear systems, including the hydraulic telemotor and the follow-up mechanism, and state the regulatory requirements for steering gear trials.

  • Outline the operation of an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) and parallel operation of alternators, including load sharing and synchronization procedures.

  • Identify the main components of a ship's electrical distribution system, such as generators, switchboards, transformers, and circuit breakers, and explain their protection schemes.

Your checkpoint

A 500-word technical note comparing water-tube and fire-tube boilers and a block diagram of the main electrical distribution system with protection devices labeled.

Week 3

Maintenance, Repair and Machinery Condition Monitoring & Naval Architecture, Ship Construction and Stability

  • Develop a condition monitoring schedule for main engine bearings using vibration analysis, oil analysis, and temperature trends, specifying frequency and alarm limits.

  • Explain the procedure for crankshaft deflection measurement and interpretation, including acceptable limits and actions to take if limits are exceeded.

  • Describe the construction and purpose of transverse and longitudinal framing in ship hulls, and the role of bulkheads and double bottoms.

  • Calculate the effect of adding or removing weights on a ship's stability, including changes in draft, trim, and metacentric height (GM), using given hydrostatic data.

Your checkpoint

A condition monitoring plan for the main engine and a stability calculation worksheet solving two load-shifting problems with all steps shown.

Week 4

Maritime Law, Statutory Regulations and Survey/Certification & Marine Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection

  • Summarize the survey and certification requirements under SOLAS, MARPOL, and the Load Line Convention, including the role of classification societies and flag state administrations.

  • Explain the requirements of MARPOL Annex I, IV, and VI regarding oil pollution prevention, sewage, and air emissions, including record-keeping and equipment requirements.

  • Describe the procedure for an oil spill response, including the use of the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) and the duties of the Chief Engineer.

  • Outline the requirements for the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate and the associated surveys.

Your checkpoint

A compliance checklist covering SOLAS, MARPOL, and Load Line requirements for a typical cargo ship, and a one-page summary of oil spill response actions.

Week 5

Ship Safety, Fire Prevention, Emergency Preparedness and Survival & Watchkeeping, Bridge/Engine Room Resource Management and Human Element

  • Explain the principles of fire prevention and firefighting on board, including the fire triangle, types of fire, and the use of fixed and portable extinguishing systems.

  • Describe the procedure for conducting an abandon ship drill and the duties of the Chief Engineer in the muster list.

  • Outline the principles of bridge and engine room resource management, including communication, situational awareness, and error chain prevention.

  • Explain the requirements for maintaining an engineering watch and the handover procedures, including the use of checklists.

Your checkpoint

A fire drill scenario and a watch handover checklist for the engine room, both based on SOLAS and STCW requirements.

Week 6

Engineering Management, Administration, Budgeting and Personnel Leadership & Maritime English and Technical Communication

  • Prepare a budget for the engineering department covering spare parts, consumables, and maintenance costs for a six-month period, using given historical data.

  • Describe the principles of planned maintenance systems (PMS) and how to use them to schedule and record maintenance tasks.

  • Write a clear technical report on a machinery defect, including description, cause, action taken, and recommendations, using appropriate maritime English.

  • Explain the procedures for ordering spare parts and dealing with suppliers, including the use of requisition forms and inventory control.

Your checkpoint

A sample six-month engineering budget and a technical report on a hypothetical main engine fuel pump failure.

Week 7

Marine Propulsion Machinery and Engine Room Systems & Maritime Law, Statutory Regulations and Survey/Certification

  • Review and consolidate knowledge of propulsion machinery, focusing on common failure modes and their prevention.

  • Practice answering survey and certification questions, focusing on the Chief Engineer's responsibilities during surveys.

  • Explain the requirements for the Continuous Survey Machinery (CSM) scheme and how it affects maintenance planning.

  • Describe the procedure for preparing the engine room for a classification society survey, including documentation and physical inspections.

Your checkpoint

A set of 20 practice questions and answers covering propulsion machinery and survey requirements, with references to SOLAS and classification society rules.

Week 8

Shipboard Electrical, Electronic and Control Engineering & Maintenance, Repair and Machinery Condition Monitoring & Naval Architecture, Ship Construction and Stability & Marine Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection & Ship Safety, Fire Prevention, Emergency Preparedness and Survival & Watchkeeping, Bridge/Engine Room Resource Management and Human Element & Engineering Management, Administration, Budgeting and Personnel Leadership & Maritime English and Technical Communication

  • Complete a full-length mock examination under timed conditions, covering all domains.

  • Review incorrect answers from the mock exam and identify weak areas for final revision.

  • Summarize key formulas and procedures for stability, power calculations, and pollution prevention.

  • Practice oral explanations of complex engineering concepts in English, as required for the oral examination.

Your checkpoint

A completed mock exam with self-assessment and a one-page summary of key formulas and concepts for final review.

Milestones

Week 4: Score at least 70% on a 40-question quiz covering Domains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, with no domain below 60%.

Week 6: Successfully complete a 30-question quiz on Domains 7, 8, 9, and 10, achieving at least 75% overall.

Week 8: Achieve a passing score (≥70%) on the full mock examination, with at least 60% in each domain.