The Senior Steam Plant Operator oversees the operation, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of marine steam systems, including high-capacity boilers, economizers, and auxiliary steam circuits. This leadership role ensures that all operations comply with maritime safety standards, Class society regulations, and performance benchmarks. The senior operator leads junior watchstanders, coordinates preventive and corrective maintenance, and provides technical input during vessel inspections, dry-dock overhauls, and emergency situations.
Manage and supervise the continuous operation of marine steam boilers, steam distribution systems, and associated auxiliaries (pumps, burners, feedwater systems)
Interpret and act on steam plant operating parameters, adjusting controls to optimize fuel efficiency and steam quality
Oversee and validate boiler water chemistry management, including testing and chemical dosing
Identify and diagnose complex operational issues such as combustion instability, scaling, foaming, water carryover, and automate control faults
Lead watchstanding teams, providing guidance and training to junior operators and engine room crew
Coordinate and execute boiler start-up, blowdown, shutdown, and emergency response procedures
Liaise with marine engineers, Class surveyors, and OEM technicians during inspections, audits, and major maintenance activities
Review and maintain operational logbooks, condition monitoring records, and compliance documentation
Implement and enforce safety standards, risk assessments, and lockout/tagout procedures
Contribute to long-term plant reliability improvement strategies and suggest upgrades to instrumentation or controls
Leadership and oversight of marine steam plant operations
Compliance with IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL, and Class society requirements
Operational efficiency, fault diagnostics, and energy conservation
Training and supervision of engine room personnel
Education:
Marine Engineering degree, or Certificate of Competency (CoC) – Class 2 or Class 1 Marine Engineer Officer
Additional certifications in boiler operation, high-pressure systems, and steam plant automation preferred
Experience:
7+ years of progressive experience operating and maintaining marine steam plants
Leadership experience in sea-going vessels, shipyards, or marine power generation facilities
Experience with audits, Class inspections, and overhaul supervision
Technical Skills:
Deep knowledge of marine boiler systems, steam flow dynamics, burner tuning, water treatment, and control logic
Proficient in handling automated boiler control systems (e.g., Siemens, Yokogawa, ABB)
Skilled in managing steam failures, emergency shutdowns, and root cause analysis
Familiarity with thermodynamic performance tracking, emissions monitoring, and economizer efficiency optimization
Soft Skills:
Strong leadership and team coordination under live plant conditions
Clear communicator with excellent decision-making in time-critical environments
High safety awareness and procedural discipline
Ability to coach and develop junior technical personnel