“We were about a month into our scientific research cruise and it had been a very fruitful period at sea, so far. We had managed to collect a lot of useful samples by then and that particular day was just like any other we’d experienced in this cruise. The sun was beating down on us and there was not a cloud in the sky. Scientists, researchers, assistants, engineers and so many others that made up our crew of a hundred people went about their business on deck or in the water, collecting fish, squid and all other manner of microorganisms and data.
All of a sudden, we heard distant rumblings in the sky as everyone looked up to hear the unmistakable sounds of a thunderstorm, headed our way. Before we knew it, a bright, sunny afternoon turned into the kind of cyclone the likes of which none of us had ever encountered before. Cyclonic winds lashed and we watched in horror as our boat rocked back and forth in the rough water, tipping over 60 degrees and threatening to capsize completely in the massive swells. In a flash, we had lost all power and all communications systems were down”
-Michell Mathew, Senior electronics engineer, Norinco Pvt. Ltd.
A day in the life of a service engineer on-board scientific research vessels can be an exhilarating experience, to say the least. In this article, we step off the docks to spend some time with one of our team members, Michell Mathew, senior electronics engineer in the Marine, Oceanography and Research Division, over at Norinco’s Chennai office. Read on to get an exciting glimpse into the life of a service engineer, as we journey across the high seas and back to bring alive what it really means to be a service engineer on board.
Q: So, what exactly does a service engineer do?
A: I’ve been with Norinco for the past eight years. A large portion of my time is spent on-board scientific research vessels for installation, commissioning, preventive maintenance, operational analysis and data collection through oceanographic research and survey equipment. In other words, I’m a part of an integral team of service engineers on board, who make sure these vessels continue to perform as per the needs and specificity of respective scientific expeditions.
Depending on whether we are at sea or ashore, my duties, responsibilities and tasks change. When I am ashore, I work with various department heads to ensure vessels are prepped for the voyage ahead. While on board, my job is to work with the chief scientist and his team, the chief engineer and the captain of the ship to ensure all the systems are running properly, at all times. Each and every expedition is unique and the engineering team consists of both mechanical and electronic engineers, as every electronic system works hand in hand with mechanical systems and vica versa. Typically, there will be a team of five engineers, backed up by two technical support resources.The engineers report in to the senior most engineer, also known as the team lead, who in turn reports directly to the chief scientist and the captain.
Q: How does one become a service engineer on board a research vessel? What qualifications and training is required?
A: While the exact criteria will differ from company to company, at the very least you need to be an engineer with a bachelors or masters in some form of engineering. Here, at Norinco, the requirement is for either electrical or mechanical engineers since that’s the work we do for our clients. The machinery and equipment on board these research vessels is highly specialised and complex, so people who have practical training in some other field like automobile engineering, may find themselves at a loss when faced with the kind of machinery we work with. For example, the Synthetic Aperture Mapping Sonar (SAMS) model that I have worked with is probably one of three such pieces of equipment that exist in the world. This means practical training is very important in our field. That is why Norinco prefers to take engineering graduates who are fresh out of college, that show strong fundamentals and an eagerness to learn. One must always be ready to learn new things and adapt quickly in this dynamic environment that is both mentally and physically challenging. Sometimes, when you’re out at sea, the access to information and resources is limited and you must rely on your knowledge and ingenuity to find the solution to problems, in a timely manner.
Q: How mentally and physically demanding is the job?
A: Norinco has the Annual Maintenance Contracts for seven of the premier research vessels in India and servicing these AMC’s are our top priority. Our on board team can be categorised into the navigational team, the engineer team and the scientific team. We engineers on board fall under the scientific team and we have to manage and operate complex scientific equipment all through the cruise period. From sudden breakdowns of machinery to hardware and software issues, we have to be trained and equipped to deal with it all. There are certain pieces of equipment that need to be assembled while on board the ship itself and then deployed into the ocean for collecting samples from the sea bed. Assembling this complex piece of machinery made up of barrels, couplers, cutters, catchers and a host of other intricate parts and pieces is often a challenging task, as the total weight of the equipment is about 7 tons. While we have cranes and forklifts to work with, it is often done under the baking sun, out on the deck, while the ship pitches back and forth, rocking in the water. To say the job can be physically demanding at times is fair I’d say!
Now, when it comes to sampling work, along with the physical challenges, come the equally important mental pressures. These expeditions are highly planned, month long projects with high stakes that entail a lot of moving pieces to be managed, across the board. Various departments and teams have to work together to ensure the vessel continues to chart it’s desired course while making sure the research team is able to gather the data they need and return safely. The goal of each project is unique and hence the challenges it brings are just as unique. We have to deal with and calibrate to an entirely new set of demands and requirements for each voyage we undertake.
Q: What are the three parts of your job you enjoy the most and why?
A:
- Constant Learning: Everyday is a new day here. Be it the problem I come across or the project or task that I have been made responsible for. There’s not a single day that goes by without learning something completely new and that is an enriching feeling.
- It’s adventurous and challenging — As you can imagine, the expanse of the open ocean comes with it’s fair share of adventures and unexpected challenges. I’ve had the privilege of going for cruises across the northern oceans as well as Antarctica, voyages not for the faint of heart. While the splendid beauty of these places is often mesmerising and surreal, they can be just as rough and dangerous. Never underestimate the force of mother nature’s fury.
Q: Can you take us through a typical day in the life of a service engineer?
A: It all depends on what the status of the vessel is, which means is the vessel out at sea or is it ashore in the harbor. The job and the responsibilities differ according to where the ship is and what stage of the voyage we are on. When the vessel is ashore, or as it is known in shipping terms, when the vessel is ‘alongside’, that is the time to get everything repaired. Do routine maintenance as well as preventive maintenance, in preparation for any upcoming cruise. This time period is very important to ensure the inventory is done properly for all spares and consumables. Just as important though is to ensure the various documentations and protocols are followed to submit the findings of the journey we just completed. Being alongside usually ends up being for a period of 5–7 days, in between cruises. When we are on shore, it is easier to have a predictable day. However, once the ship leaves the harbour, it’s a completely different story. The first week or ten days are usually the most demanding and challenging period for us in the scientific team. This is when all the preparation we have done comes into play and we have to work with an entirely new set of conditions and criteria, for an entirely new set of scientific teams, all that come with unique requests and challenges. It is our job to ensure that the scientific team gets what they need and all the equipment is performing at maximum capacity while we’re out there. It’s not really possible to create an hourly schedule for the day, like we can do when we’re ashore. Out there, on the open ocean, we’re on call 24X7, all through the period of the cruise (typically these are about 30 days long) and we work in shifts to ensure someone capable is available whenever the need arises.
Q: Any interesting anecdotes from your cruise experiences you’d like to share?
A: There was one particular incident that I’d like to share that occured on one of our scientific cruises in the Antarctic waters a few years ago. Three of my colleagues and myself began this journey from India via Mauritius and headed towards South Africa, on our way towards the Antarctic circle. The expedition was made up of about a hundred members, spanning from across the globe. We had Indians, Canadians, Americans, Austratlians, South Africans, British, Koreans and many more on board this cruise, working across the different functions and skill sets. Our cruise was to be for a period of two and a half months and we were off to a fantastic start. The open ocean was mesmerising in its ethereal beauty and the sky shimmered with the colours of the rainbow, especially when the light fell on the sheets of ice that surrounded us all around. We were about a month into our scientific research cruise and it had been a very fruitful period at sea so far. We had managed to collect a lot of useful samples by then and that particular day was just like any other we’d experienced this far. The sun was burning bright down on us and there was not a cloud in the sky. Scientists, researchers, assistants, engineers and so many others that made up our crew of a hundred people went about their business on deck or in the water, collecting fish, squid and all other manner of microorganisms. All of a sudden, without a second’s warning, troubling grey shadows of dark clouds emerged. Instantly changing a bright, sunny afternoon into a cyclone the likes of which none of us had ever encountered before. We watched in horror as our boat rocked back and forth in the rough water, tipping over 60 degrees and threatening to capsize completely in these massive swells. In a flash, we had lost all power and all communications systems were down. Weeks of scientific data collected was destroyed as the equipment tossed, turned and smashed into one another creating deadly mixtures of chemicals that filled the air. We found ourselves huddled into the main deck, all hundred of us skilled engineers, scientists, navigators, at the mercy of the relentless storm outside. As the captain, chief engineer and other team leaders tried rallying the troops to get moving on damage control, I began to notice a transformation of sorts. The fear slowly began melting away as we egged each other on, motivating one another. Till now, all our interactions were merely on the stiff, professional front. We had all worked together but it was in silos, where each one just did their bit and stuck to their own group. Now, faced with potentially life threatening consequences, I saw this group of a hundred people forget all their differences and come together to help each other. No matter what one’s skill set was, wherever there was a need, people stepped up and did whatever they could to help out the situation. In a short period of time, we went from a potentially catastrophic result to bringing the vessel back on track and in control. While we may have lost a lot of precious scientific data in that storm, we gained a bond that will always last. That entire group of a hundred people, even today, considers each other family and that, to me, is priceless.
Q: Why do you find your work meaningful?
A: I believe we service engineers are doing work that directly creates an impact for our nation as well as the world as a whole. Our job is to ensure the operations go smoothly as far as all the scientific equipment on board is concerned, so that the scientists can get the data and samples they need. These scientific research vessels are out there searching for things like petroleum or even Lithium, used for the manufacturer of electric vehicles. I am proud to be spending my time on board working on the success of these missions that are important for the progress of not just my company, but my country as well. Oh, and let’s not forget, the state-of-the-art machinery and equipment I get to work with as a Norinco service engineer is to me both a delight and a privilege.
On a lighter note..
“ One day, as I was walking across the deck, going about my business, I noticed one of my teammates chatting with someone. My teammate was from Tamil Nadu and spoke only Tamil, while the guy he was chatting with was from South Korea, and spoke only Korean. I stood back and witnessed an entire dialogue that ended in laughter from both sides. Somehow, they had understood each other perfectly. ”
-Michell Mathew, Senior Electronics Engineer, Norinco Pvt. Ltd.
