Marine Engineers are responsible for the safe running of all engines, boilers, refrigerating and sanitary equipment, deck machinery and steam connections of marine ships, and the maintenance, repair and construction of all marine machinery. This also includes the supervision of engine crew involved in operating the machines, and checking for smooth functioning of all steam engines, electric motors, propulsive engines, etc.

One needs to have completed four years of training from MERI ( Marine Engineering Research Institute) Calcutta, to become a marine engineer.

To be eligible for the training in Marine Engineering, one has to have completed the 10+2 level course, after which one can appear for the entrance examination.

Selection : Selection to all Engineering courses is on the basis of : (a.) merit / marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 (with science subjects) ; (b.) through the means of entrance exams (joint entrance exam / JEE for the IIT's and separate state level and national level exams for other institutions). Engineering courses are available at two levels. There are the degree and postgraduate degree courses offered by the engineering colleges and Institutes of Technology (IITs), and, the diploma courses available at polytechnics.

The six Indian Institutes of Technology ( IITs) at Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur and Guwahati, and the Institute of Technology (BHU) at Varanasi, conduct the Joint Entrance Examination for admission jointly.

Competitive examinations on an all-India basis for admission to a B Tech / B E course are also conducted by The Birla Institute of Technology, at Pilani, Rajasthan, and at Ranchi; the University of Roorkee, UP; Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal; the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, among others.

There are also 17 Regional Engineering colleges all over the country which offer admission in various branches of engineering, on the basis of marks obtained in the Class 12 examination.

There is also the (AMIE) Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers which enables working people in the private and public sector, or diploma holders to acquire a Bachelor's degree through distance education, for career advancement.

BE / B.Tech courses are of 4 years' duration The diploma courses are of 2-3 years' duration.

Marine Engineering Research Institute, Calcutta. International Maritime Institute, Delhi.