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Electro-Technical Officer

An Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) is a specialist in charge of a ship’s electrical and electronic systems, including power generation, communication, navigation, and control equipment. They ensure all electrical machinery operates safely and efficiently, carry out maintenance and repairs, and respond to technical faults at sea. As ships become increasingly advanced and reliant on digital technology, the role of the ETO is vital to modern maritime operations, combining engineering knowledge with problem-solving and technical expertise.

ETO Attributes

•An enquiring mind

•Excellent reasoning capabilities

•Decisiveness

•Good under pressure

•Accept and delegate authority

•A sense of humour

•Technically minded

•Able to take on responsibility

•Problem solver

•Work independently or as part of a team.

ETO's have responsibility for:

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•The maintenance and repair of all the ship’s electrical equipment

•Maximising the operational safety and efficiency of the vessel

•Electrical generation and distribution

•Maintaining complex diesel-electric propulsion and computer-controlled engines

•Process control systems

•Ship to shore and emergency Communications.

•Electronic navigation systems such as Radar, speed measurement and depth sounding. and computer networks

•Computer Networks

•Maintaining entertainment equipment  

•Daily fault finding and repair.

•Even sometimes changing a lamp or wiring a plug.

​Prospects for those choosing the mechanical engineer route

  • You will finish with a ETO Certificate of Competency (CoC)

  • Aged 21+, responsible for electrical management, maintenance and trouble shooting.

  • Potential Earnings of around 28k to 35k.  Potentially tax free.  Working 6 to 8 months.

  • Achieve 12 months of sea time (not calendar months)

  • Undertake Senior ETO training and exam to achieve Senior ETO CoC. (Currently in development.)

  • Be in charge of electrical operations and junior ETOs.

  • Potential Earnings of around 40k to 55k.  Potentially tax free.  Working 6 to 8 months.

  • Experience, right place, right time and ambition.  You could become an Electrical Superintendent

  • Aged 30+, responsible for all engineering and management of a fleet of vessels

  • Potential Earnings of around ??????. Working 9 to 5, normal working weeks and leave

  • Opportunities to work in non-sea-going jobs are massive

  • Potential employers like your dedication, self-motivation, the broadness of your knowledge, the ability to work unsupervised, your confidence and a general belief sea –farers can “cut the mustard”

What type of vessels will I be working on?

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