Chief Engineer

Congratulations! You are now employed as Chief Engineer on a Grimsby trawler.

Listen to the audio clip below to hear a fellow Chief Engineer talking about your new job.

Audio Clip: Chief Engineer, performed by Stephen Rayner

Chief Engineer

Average wage: £8.11s.0d per week. Around £204 in today’s money.

Average hours: 8 hours a day on rotation with Second Engineer. Up to 36 hours without sleep during engine trouble.

Main duties:

Maintain the ship’s engines and all other machinery and plumbing.
Clean the engine room and freshen paintwork when required.
Maintain the engine room logs.
Give orders to the Trimmer for maintaining the boiler and keeping a good head of steam.
Respond to telegraph orders from the bridge to change speed, stop or reverse the engines.
Start water pumps to pump water from fish room and bilges, or operate hoses on deck
Make emergency repairs and advise the Skipper if there is an accident or damage to the ship.