Diverse careers: Marine engineering

The life of the marine engineer is no longer an all-male preserve. Claire Smith reports

By the time Zoe Beverley was 23 she had travelled the world, had no student debt and was a fully qualified engineer. A rich man's genius daughter? Not quite. Blackpool born and bred Beverley is one of the small pool of women in the UK who have answered the merchant navy's call for more women to enter their ranks. Though for Beverley, it was not the pristine creases of an all-white uniform that caught her eye, but a pair of overalls and the hot, sweaty heartbeat of the engine room.

Whereas in the past marine engineering might have been the regarded as the domain of physically strong men, in today's state-of-the-art ships, where much is controlled by computers, practically minded women who enjoy problem solving, and are interested in mechanical, electrical and electronic systems are welcomed. Sponsored by Shell, Beverley studied the 3-year HND in marine engineering at Southampton's Maritime Centre. Big shipping firms annually recruit new merchant navy trainee officers, paying in full for their tuition at one of the UK's four nautical colleges in Glasgow, Fleetwood, Tyneside or Southampton. From September, trainee engineers can opt to read for a degree, rather than an HND.

Twenty-one months of the HND in marine engineering are spent ashore, studying subjects such as naval architecture, electronics, advanced mathematics, with hands-on time in the workshop learning welding and drilling; while one year - two six-month stints - is spent at sea, learning how to maintain and repair the ship, from the engines through to the sewage system. When you qualify, you can work on tankers, container ships, cruise liners and ferries.

Beverley spent her first six months at sea sailing from Texas to Mexico, Panama, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Nigeria; her second ploughing the waters between Japan and Brunei. As an engineer your days are spent in the engine room, monitoring, maintaining and repairing. "Sometimes you're just monitoring equipment, but other times it can be very challenging - such as dealing with an emergency... no two days are ever the same."

Beverley, who joined the army at 17, takes it in her stride. "As a girl, you do feel like you have something more to prove. At college you can't be in the bottom half of your class, because then they'll think, 'Of course she can't do it, she's a girl'. And for the first couple of weeks onboard a new ship you have to work that bit extra hard to prove your mettle."

She says it is more the older people who tend to be wary of women at sea. "It's only been the last 20-odd years that women have been introduced to boats, so it's still a culture shock to them."

Beverley has never been fazed about being in a woman in a traditionally male world. "You're surrounded by a bunch of men who haven't seen their girlfriends in months. You have to become one of the lads," says Beverley. "Luckily I've got a big mouth. I learned to banter with boys and I'm usually quite good at one-line returns. It's better to socialise and become more of a friend, rather than be seen as a woman."

That's not to say only tomboys need apply as cranes and lifts do all the heavy lifting work. There may be little need for physical strength on the modern ships, but you do need to be strong in character, and not scared of getting your hands dirty. "You can't have false nails," she laughs.

So what's in it for women? Being paid to see the world for a start. And then there's the salary. As a trainee officer, your sponsor company pays you for the time you spend at sea. And as a junior engineer spending more than 186 days a year offshore, you can earn £19,000-£22,000 tax free, and with all your food and accommodation paid for while you are off shore, it gives you an opportunity to save money. Rapid promotion is possible, with junior engineers moving up to the top ranks within 10 years, and salaries in excess of £40,000.

And although it's not a job that many women will stick with for life - having children and being away for four months at a time are hardly compatible - the leisure marine industry has boomed by 40 per cent in the UK in the last six years, and there is much call for experienced engineers to work in shore-based marine industries. Also with an engineering qualification, your skills are transferable and you could end up in the hotel industry, looking after hotel systems, for power stations or British Aerospace. Beverley has recently used her marine engineering skills to join shore-based company Oil Spill Response, who are responsible for cleaning up oil spills.

For further information visit www.marine-society.org, which has a careers page which lists all the companies recruiting cadets in the UK. Or contact the Merchant Navy Training Board on www.mntb.org.uk