How can you keep your marine engineering skills up-to-date?

1 Join professional associations

One of the best ways to stay informed and connected with your peers is to join professional associations that represent your interests and goals. For example, you can join the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). These associations offer various benefits, such as access to journals, newsletters, webinars, conferences, workshops, mentoring, networking, and certification programs. You can also participate in committees, chapters, and special interest groups that focus on specific topics or issues in marine engineering.

2 Take online courses

Another way to update your skills is to take online courses that cover relevant and emerging topics in marine engineering. Online courses offer flexibility, convenience, and affordability, as you can learn at your own pace and place. You can find online courses from various sources, such as universities, colleges, training providers, or MOOC platforms. Some examples of online courses that you can take are Marine Engineering Operations, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Renewable Energy, Marine Robotics, and Marine Safety and Environmental Engineering. You can also earn certificates or credits that can enhance your resume or portfolio.

3 Read books and blogs

Reading books and blogs is a simple and effective way to keep up with the latest trends, developments, and innovations in marine engineering. Books and blogs can provide you with insights, tips, case studies, and perspectives from experts and practitioners in the field. You can also learn from the experiences, challenges, and solutions of other marine engineers who work on different projects and environments. You can find books and blogs on various topics, such as marine propulsion, marine structures, marine systems, marine corrosion, marine design, and marine management.

4 Follow podcasts and videos

Podcasts and videos are another great way to update your skills and knowledge in marine engineering. Podcasts and videos can offer you audio-visual content that can be more engaging, interactive, and entertaining than text-based content. You can also listen or watch podcasts and videos while commuting, working, or relaxing. You can find podcasts and videos on various platforms, such as YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, or SoundCloud. Some examples of podcasts and videos that you can follow are Marine Tech Talk, The Shipping Podcast, The Naval Architect Podcast, and The Marine Engineering Channel.

5 Practice with software and tools

Finally, one of the best ways to keep your skills up-to-date is to practice with software and tools that are used in marine engineering. Software and tools can help you design, analyze, simulate, optimize, and test various aspects of marine engineering, such as hulls, propellers, engines, systems, structures, and fluids. You can also use software and tools to improve your productivity, efficiency, accuracy, and creativity. You can find software and tools from various sources, such as vendors, open-source communities, or online platforms. Some examples of software and tools that you can practice with are AutoCAD, MATLAB, ANSYS, DelftShip, and OpenFOAM.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?