The fitter is the engine department's craftsman: welding, cutting, machining on the lathe, making the part that is not on board and repairing the one that broke. When a pipe cracks at sea or a bracket shears off on deck, the fitter is the person who turns a problem into a repair. It is a senior engine rating, and a natural job at sea for welders and machinists from shore. This guide covers the duties, a typical day, the documents, the interview and how to get the first contract.
What the fitter does
- Welding and cutting. Pipes, brackets, ladders, railings, supports — electric arc welding and gas cutting, on deck and in the engine room.
- Machining. Work on the lathe, drilling and milling where the workshop has them: shafts, bushes, flanges, studs.
- Mechanical repairs. Pumps, valves, heat exchangers, pipework — together with the engineers.
- Fabrication. Making what the ship needs from the stores: a new support, a guard, a repair piece.
- Overhauls. Helping with main engine and generator overhauls — lifting, measuring, cleaning, fitting.
- The workshop. Keeping tools, the lathe, welding equipment and gas bottles in order and safe.
The fitter usually reports to the second engineer, who plans the work.
A typical day
The fitter is a day worker: roughly 08:00–17:00 in the engine-room workshop or wherever the job is. Welding and cutting outside the workshop need a hot work permit: fire watch, gas checks, fire extinguishers ready, the area cleared — the fitter knows the procedure better than anyone. Repairs that cannot wait come at any hour.
Differences by vessel type
- Bulk carriers and general cargo: hatch covers, cranes, grab repairs — a lot of welding on deck.
- Tankers and gas carriers: hot work in or near cargo areas is strictly controlled and often not allowed at all during operations; the permit system is heavier.
- Container ships: lashing gear repairs, cell guides, reefer brackets.
- Offshore: deck equipment, sea fastening of cargo, often welding work to client standards.
- Passenger ships: big workshops, several fitters and a lot of hotel-side repairs.
Documents
There is no separate STCW certificate for a fitter. What companies ask for:
- an engine rating certificate — rating forming part of an engineering watch (STCW III/4) or able seafarer engine (III/5);
- a welding certificate from a recognised body, with the processes and positions you are qualified for;
- Basic Training (refreshed every five years) and Security Awareness;
- a medical certificate, valid for at most two years;
- a seaman's book and passport.
What it takes
Under STCW, the watch rating (III/4) must be at least 16 and have approved sea service including at least six months of training and experience — or special training ashore or on board with at least two months of approved sea service. The able seafarer engine (III/5) must be at least 18, hold the III/4 qualification, and have at least 12 months of approved sea service in the engine department — or six months after approved training.
In practice the hiring decision rests on the welding: a crewing manager wants to see your certificates, the processes you can do, and often a practical test.
How to get the first contract
- Get your welding qualification documented with dates and processes.
- Get Basic Training, the medical and a seaman's book before applying.
- Ask the agency which engine rating certificate your administration requires for your route to sea.
- Show shore work in detail: shipyards, pipe workshops, steel structures — sea-related work counts most.
- Never pay for a placement — under MLC 2006 recruitment fees must not be charged to the seafarer.
Contracts and rotation
Fitters usually sail six to nine months, depending on the company and the crew's nationality. MLC 2006 limits time on board before repatriation to less than 12 months, and the rest-hour minimums — 10 hours in 24 and 77 in seven days — apply to every rating.
Interview questions for a fitter
- "Which welding processes and positions are you qualified for?"
- "What does a hot work permit include?" Gas test, fire watch, extinguishers, the area, the time limit.
- "How do you weld a pipe that carried fuel?" Cleaning, gas-freeing, testing — or not welding it at all.
- "How do you machine a bush to size on the lathe?"
- "What do you check before using gas cutting equipment?" Hoses, flashback arrestors, bottles secured.
- "Show us your welding." Many agencies and ships run a practical test.
Common mistakes
- No welding certificate — saying "I can weld" is not enough.
- A CV without the processes and materials you have worked with.
- Ignoring hot work procedures in the interview — safety questions decide many fitter interviews.
- Paying an agency. An honest agency is paid by the shipowner.
FAQ
Is a fitter an officer?
No — the fitter is a senior engine rating.
Do I need an STCW certificate to be a fitter?
There is no special one, but companies want an engine rating certificate (III/4 or III/5) plus your welding certificates.
Can a shore welder become a ship's fitter?
Yes — with Basic Training, a medical, an engine rating certificate and welding papers.
What is the next step after fitter?
Some fitters move to motorman or study for the engineer's certificate (STCW III/1).
Pay and jobs
The fitter is among the better-paid ratings, close to the motorman and electrician. The current range from real vacancies is on the fitter jobs page; compare ranks on our salaries page.
Your CV
Crewing desks read a fitter's CV for welding processes, certificates with dates, the machines you have used and vessel types. The maritime CV puts them on one page.
Requirements follow STCW and MLC 2006; your flag state may add its own. Check them with your maritime administration.