Ship Electricians
Background
Electrical systems supply power to operate ships and submarines. Lights, radar, weapons, and machinery all need electricity. Ship electricians keep electrical power plants, wiring, and machinery in working order. Ship electricians operate and repair electrical systems on ships.
What They Do
Ship electricians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Inspect and maintain devices that distribute electricity throughout ships, such as circuits, transformers, and regulators
- Install wiring for lights and equipment
- Monitor and maintain electrical devices connected to the ship's main engines or nuclear reactors
- Troubleshoot electrical wiring and equipment using test meters
Physical Demands
Normal color vision is required to work with color-coded wiring.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to use tools
- Interest in electricity and how electrical machines work
- Interest in solving problems
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Math
- Shop mechanics
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Ship electricians usually work indoors, aboard ships or submarines. They also work in ship repair shops on land.
Services offering this career:
- Coast Guard
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for enlisted personnel.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training for non-nuclear specialists consists of 18 to 25 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice repairing electrical systems.
Course content typically includes:
- Electrical theory
- Maintenance and repair procedures
- Reading diagrams and calculating amperage, voltage, and resistance levels
- Troubleshooting procedures
Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian ship electricians work for shipbuilding and drydock firms and shipping lines. They perform duties similar to military ship electricians. Other civilian electricians, such as building electricians and electrical products repairers, also perform similar work.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 2,000 ship electricians. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new ship electricians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, ship electricians perform maintenance work and repair electrical problems. Eventually, they may become superintendents of electrical repair shops or of ship electrical systems.