Chief Engineer

What is a chief engineer on a superyacht?

The chief engineer is the head of the engineering department on a superyacht - the team accountable for every mechanical, electrical and life-support system on board. That scope is broader than most owners assume. It covers main propulsion engines, gearboxes and shafts, generators and the electrical distribution network, fuel and lubrication systems, HVAC and climate control, freshwater production via watermakers, sewage and grey-water treatment, fire detection and suppression, bilge and ballast, hydraulics for stabilisers, passerelles and tenders, and engineering support to the AV, IT and bridge systems.

The chief engineer reports directly to the captain and sits at the senior leadership table alongside the chief officer (deck) and the chief stew (interior). Below the chief engineer sits the second engineer, third engineer and, on larger yachts, an electro-technical officer (ETO) handling electrical, electronics, AV and IT, plus dedicated engineering ratings on 70m+ vessels.

Daily duties divide between watchkeeping and planned maintenance. Watchkeeping means monitoring propulsion, generators and ship systems while underway and at anchor, responding to alarms and managing fuel transfers. Planned maintenance means running the PMS - typically AMOS, Idea or NS5 - to schedule and execute every manufacturer-mandated service interval, plus class and flag-state surveys, refit oversight and shipyard liaison during yard periods.

Mandatory certifications are the STCW Basic Safety Training and a valid ENG1 seafarer medical. The professional ladder runs MEOL (Y) → Y4 → Y3 → Y2 → Y1 under the legacy MCA Yacht Engineer scheme, with the MCA Chief Engineer Reg III/2 CoC with Large Yacht Endorsement (Y1) at the top. The MCA is transitioning the Y-ticket structure to the Small Vessel (SV) Engineer route, with SV EOOW replacing Y4 entry and SV Chief 9000kW sitting where Y2 and Y1 stood.

Why it matters for yacht owners

The chief engineer is the largest determinant of whether a yacht runs reliably or expensively. Every breakdown that cancels a charter week, every blackout in front of guests, every flagged class deficiency, every overrun refit invoice and every unscheduled yard visit traces back to the engine room.

The economics are steep. Chief engineers on 60m+ yachts are among the hardest maritime hires in the industry, with a global candidate pool estimated at roughly 60 to 100 suitably qualified individuals. Owners who invest in a properly certified chief engineer on a rotational contract typically see lower lifetime operating cost and stronger residual value at resale.

Key facts

• Chief engineer pay typically ranges €8,000 to €14,000 per month on 40 to 60m yachts, rising to €15,000 to €20,000+ on 60m+ flagships.
• STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical are mandatory baseline; ladder is MEOL (Y) → Y4 → Y3 → Y2 → Y1.
• Y4 covers chief engineer on yachts under 200GT and under 1,500kW; Y1 is the standard requirement on unlimited-tonnage flagships.
• The MCA is phasing out Y tickets in favour of the Small Vessel (SV) Engineer route.
• Reporting line: chief engineer → captain; second engineer, third engineer, ETO below.
• 40m motor yacht typically carries one engineer; 60m carries chief plus second; 80m+ carries chief, second, third, ETO plus ratings.
• 2:2 rotation is standard for chief engineers on 60m+ yachts in 2026.
• Career path: engineering cadet or AEC → MEOL → Y4 → Y3 → Y2 → Y1; chief on 60m+ typically reached at 8-12 years' sea time.