Who is paid more, deck or engine?

[agibbs98]

Chief engineer vs master, equivalent ranks basically?

[CharlieDelta]

The ranks aren't necessarily equivalent - a ship's Master has responsibility over the whole ship, including the engine department though of course any Master who wants an iota of respect from the engine department won't go throwing their weight around in an area they know little about.

I've heard of it going both ways, depending on company and ship type. If there's particularly complex machinery on board, the Chief Engineer may get paid more, if not considerably more than the Master. With others, the Master will be paid more.

[ETwhat?]

mmmm no idea, i would imagine with seniority in a company that you could get chiefs who have been there 10 years getting paid more than a master whos fresh to them

also things like pilot exemptions so basically the fact that you can get lots of additional skills that sets both apart, saying that do the one that you enjoy is better than doing one you hate for 10k more

[Randomist]

The master of a ship is infact that, the master. To quote the Merchant Shipping Regulations: "The authority of the Captain is supreme in every respect. He is at all times the personal Representative of the Company and is responsible for all employees, of all departments, at all times whether at sea or in port."

Once at the rank of Captain, the fact that he/she is also a Deck Officer becomes an aside.

As his title suggests a Chief Engineer is equivalent to the Chief Officer in the deck department. However, I would imagine that seniority, as CD says, would have a lot to do with it. A chief that has been in the position for 10 years may be paid more than a captain that's been in the position for 1 year. I don't know what the exact figures are.

[CharlieDelta]

Or, to put it another way, the Chief Officer is the head of the deck department, the Chief Engineer is head of the engine department and on passenger ships you'll have a Purser or Hotel director who's head of the Hotel department. All of them report to the Captain.

[Martyboy]

I would disagree with Chief Engineer and Chief Officer being equiv ranks. I would always consider the Chief Officer and the 2/E as the equiv ranks. Different companies, different rules. On a cadet scale.. In our company the engine cadets are paid more than deck. And I can't say I grudge them the extra money for spending time in they hellish conditions they call an engine room

[CharlieDelta]

Chief officer and chief engineer will almost definitely be paid differently and wear different stripes, but they are both department heads and report to the Captain. It is perhaps a bit more equitable on cruise ships where the staff captain (4 stripes) is the deck department head and the chief engineer (4 stripes) is the engine department head.

The Captain is drawn from the deck department, but as Randomist says that's kind of put aside on promotion (apart from ship handling etc...) as they manage the entire ship.

[Martyboy]

Perhaps it is different in cruise ships, but If you look at simple things like the Capt and C/E having the same size of cabin on the same deck... The 2/E and the C/O having the same size of cabin on the same deck... The C/O generally having a 2nd and 3rd mate working with him where as the 2/E having a 3rd and 4th engineer working with him..... It all balances out and makes sense. I wonder what Chiefys take is on this one

[ETwhat?]

so in surmary, no one really knows the answer to your question as there are too many variables once you get to that level of responsibility

[alistairuk]

It depends on a lot of factors including; experience, COMPANY, nationality, how good you are at negotiating your contracts. But generally purely on the fact that the master is legally responsible for everything and is normally the one carted off to jail they tend to get more.

The same applies for all ranks onboard - you may not be getting paid the same as others holding the same position (for the reasons above) - which is why always make sure you are happy with your contract terms.

You will not get a straight answer on this :-) As you have probably already noticed finding out what people earn is near impossible unless you ask them and they are willing to tell you!

[Martyboy]

Totally agree!! I heard of engineers and mates on funny money because they are working on dive support vessels or dynamic positioning vessels, and LNG seems to be the new big earner for officers these days!

[GuinnessMan]

The responsibility of the Master will be different from company to company. In some companies, his is considered the final rank, where in others it will be the same the Chief Engineer. In one company I worked for, the Master's responsibility stopped at the engine room door. He could piss and moan all he liked, but he could not hire, fire or give orders to any of the Engine Room staff (which was a good thing in that situation).

It will also differ when it comes to nationality as well, as each nation / union has their own CBA which determines pay. For some, it is based on time in rank. A Captain who has been in rank for one year, will not make more than a Chief Engineer who has been in rank for 2 years. More time they spend in their ranks, the higher the pay goes, although it will not rise past a certain point (can't remember what it was off hand). In one company I worked for, the Captain and Chief Engineer earned exactly the same amount each month.

I remember reading about the NS Savannah, and all the deckies on board got all pissy because the Engineers earned quite a bit more than them. In all fairness, in that situation, it would be warranted....

[ETwhat?]

Thinking of the NS Savannah, the eto on here was explaining how his class mate who had add the extra requirements for the russian nuclear ships never even got on a ship, but was instantly picked up and employed by the KGB, which apparently pays rather well.

[GuinnessMan]

With the old KGB it wasn't just pay that they enjoyed, it was power that they had. The KGB was one of the most feared institutions in Soviet Russia. It was an organisation that was capable of turning it's collective fury inwards instead of outwards. (Sailed with a Chief Engineer who suspiciously knew a lot about them and how they worked)

[Chiefy]

Hmmmm as some have said it all rather depends.....over here in the Big Blue Canoe Co Ltd Master adn Chiefy are seen as THE senior managers, though AT THE SAME SENIORITY the Master gets a little more in money than the Chief, mainly down to the leagal side of things, and rememeber if it's an engine related FUBA (oil spill etc) it's the Chief who is carted of WITH the Mater who will normally be let go depending on the country etc etc.

Remember to get a ship (we'll stick to cargo ones) around the world is a team sport, there is no room for prima donna's (although donna kebabs are welcome). with 20-ish souls on board it's a case of getting on with it and making best of things.

Other companies may view the hierachy a little differently to fit thier needs, seeing as in Cruise ships the cargo and it's welfare is very important so you get 4 stripe hair dressers, which is nice for them

So normally the wages are similar, all things being equal, there may be 2k difference overall, but not always and will vary from company to company.