Marine Engineering interview questions
500 questions with model answers, in four levels. Start with Basic, check yourself honestly, then move up.
Basic questions
- Ship Construction & Naval Architecture (13)
- Ship Stability (13)
- Resistance & Propulsion (13)
- Marine Diesel Engines (13)
- Marine Boilers & Steam Systems (13)
- Auxiliary Machinery (Pumps, Purifiers, Compressors, FWG) (13)
- Marine Electrical Systems (12)
- Refrigeration & AC on Ships (12)
- Fuels, Lubrication & Bunkering (12)
- Maritime Regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS) (12)
- Safety, Firefighting & Survival (12)
- Engine Room Operations & Watchkeeping (12)
Intermediate questions
- Ship Construction & Naval Architecture (13)
- Ship Stability (13)
- Resistance & Propulsion (13)
- Marine Diesel Engines (13)
- Marine Boilers & Steam Systems (13)
- Auxiliary Machinery (Pumps, Purifiers, Compressors, FWG) (13)
- Marine Electrical Systems (12)
- Refrigeration & AC on Ships (12)
- Fuels, Lubrication & Bunkering (12)
- Maritime Regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS) (12)
- Safety, Firefighting & Survival (12)
- Engine Room Operations & Watchkeeping (12)
Advanced questions
- Ship Construction & Naval Architecture (11)
- Ship Stability (11)
- Resistance & Propulsion (11)
- Marine Diesel Engines (11)
- Marine Boilers & Steam Systems (11)
- Auxiliary Machinery (Pumps, Purifiers, Compressors, FWG) (10)
- Marine Electrical Systems (10)
- Refrigeration & AC on Ships (10)
- Fuels, Lubrication & Bunkering (10)
- Maritime Regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS) (10)
- Safety, Firefighting & Survival (10)
- Engine Room Operations & Watchkeeping (10)
Tricky questions
- Ship Construction & Naval Architecture (7)
- Ship Stability (7)
- Resistance & Propulsion (7)
- Marine Diesel Engines (6)
- Marine Boilers & Steam Systems (6)
- Auxiliary Machinery (Pumps, Purifiers, Compressors, FWG) (6)
- Marine Electrical Systems (6)
- Refrigeration & AC on Ships (6)
- Fuels, Lubrication & Bunkering (6)
- Maritime Regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS) (6)
- Safety, Firefighting & Survival (6)
- Engine Room Operations & Watchkeeping (6)
Sample questions
- What are the main parts of a ship?
- What are stable, neutral and unstable equilibrium for a ship?
- What is a cylinder liner?
- What is a central cooling system?
- What is a sight glass in a refrigeration system?
- What is an Emission Control Area (ECA)?
- Why do bulkheads matter?
- What are hydrostatic curves?
- What is the electronically controlled (ME/RT-flex) engine?
- Why are screw pumps used for lube oil and fuel?
- Why is R22 being phased out?
- What is the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)?
- A hull girder has a bending moment of 800 MN·m and a midship section modulus of 20 m³. What is the bending stress?
- A ship needs 10,000 kW at 15 knots. Estimate power at 13 knots and the fuel saved per voyage.
- How is combustion optimised in an oil-fired boiler?
- A plant removes 50 kW of heat using 15 kW of power. Compare its COP to the Carnot COP between −25 °C and +35 °C.
- What are the MARPOL Annex IV sewage discharge rules?
- How can a steel ship float when steel is denser than water?
- A cylinder shows much lower exhaust temperature than the others. Is it running better?
- R134a has zero ozone depletion potential, so it has no environmental impact?