Third Engineer
Welcome to our Third Engineer resume sample page! This expertly crafted resume template is designed to showcase your expertise in assisting the Second Engineer with watchkeeping, overseeing the maintenance and repair of auxiliary machinery, managing fuel/lube oil transfers, and ensuring strict adherence to safety and environmental regulations. Whether you work on merchant vessels, tugs, or offshore units, this sample highlights key skills like STCW CoC, Auxiliary Machinery Maintenance, Engine Watchkeeping, Fuel/Lube Oil Management, and Planned Maintenance System (PMS) Operation tailored to meet top shipping and marine demands. Use this guide to create a polished, results-driven resume that stands out and secures your next career opportunity.Build a Standout Third Engineer Resume with Superbresume.com

Superbresume.com empowers Third Engineers to craft resumes that highlight their practical machinery maintenance and operational compliance expertise. Our platform offers customizable templates tailored for junior officer roles, emphasizing skills like diesel/auxiliary engine troubleshooting, spare parts inventory control, bilge/ballast procedures, and adherence to environmental regulations (MARPOL). With ATS-optimized formats, expert-written content suggestions, and real-time resume analysis, we ensure your resume aligns with job descriptions. Showcase your experience in successfully overhauling auxiliary equipment, managing complex fuel/lube oil transfers, or maintaining a flawless safety record during watchkeeping duties with confidence. Superbresume.com helps you create a polished, results-driven resume that grabs hiring managers’ attention and lands interviews.
How to Write a Resume for a Third Engineer
Craft a Targeted Summary: Write a 2-3 sentence summary highlighting your active STCW Third Engineer Certificate of Competency (CoC), expertise in auxiliary machinery maintenance and watchkeeping, and success in ensuring regulatory compliance and efficient engine room operation.
Use Reverse-Chronological Format: List recent sea service periods and ranks held first, focusing on watch duties, hands-on maintenance, and compliance responsibilities.
Highlight Certifications/CoC: Include essential credentials like STCW Third Engineer CoC, Engine Resource Management (ERM), High Voltage Awareness (if applicable), and all required safety/survival courses (e.g., BOSIET/HUET) to boost credibility.
Quantify Achievements: Use metrics, e.g., “Successfully maintained and overhauled 15+ critical auxiliary machines (e.g., pumps, compressors), ensuring 99% operational availability for assigned equipment,” or “Managed fuel/lube oil transfers (500+ tons) adhering to 100% MARPOL regulations and procedures,” to show impact.
Incorporate Keywords: Use terms like “Auxiliary Machinery Maintenance,” “Engine Room Watchkeeping (8-12, 4-8),” “STCW/MARPOL Compliance,” “Fuel/Lube Oil Management,” “Planned Maintenance System (PMS) Operation,” “Troubleshooting (Mechanical/Electrical),” or “Engine Resource Management (ERM)” from job descriptions for ATS.
Detail Technical Skills: List proficiency with specific machinery (e.g., Generators, Purifiers, Compressors), maintenance software (AMOS/MAXIMO), diagnostic tools, basic electrical systems, and regulatory documentation in a comprehensive skills section.
Showcase Sea Service/Duties: Highlight specific vessel types (e.g., Tanker, Container Ship, OSV), tonnage (GT), and the key watchkeeping and maintenance duties performed during sea time.
Emphasize Soft Skills: Include discipline, technical aptitude, attention to detail (logs/readings), systematic troubleshooting, and effective teamwork/communication.
Keep It Concise: Limit your resume to 1-2 pages, focusing on relevant senior engine room, technical maintenance, and compliance experience.
Proofread Thoroughly: Eliminate typos or jargon for a professional document.
Advanced Auxiliary Systems Maintenance: Focus on expertise performing overhaul, repair, and troubleshooting on key auxiliary machinery, including pumps, heat exchangers, purifiers, and steering gear, ensuring system redundancy.
Fuel and Environmental Compliance: Highlight advanced skills managing fuel oil treatment (bunkering, settling, purification) and ensuring strict adherence to MARPOL Annex VI regulations and handling Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS).
Planned Maintenance System (PMS) Mastery: Showcase deep proficiency utilizing computerized maintenance systems (CMMS/PMS) for work order execution, defect reporting, and accurate spare parts inventory tracking.
Watchkeeping Efficiency and Safety: Detail experience standing watch independently, managing the engine room console, and ensuring all parameters are maintained within safe limits, with a focus on quick response to alarms.
Engine Resource Management (ERM): Emphasize training and practical application of ERM principles in watchkeeping duties, coordinating with the Chief/Second Engineer and ETO.
Metrics-Driven Achievements: Use results like “Successfully completed the overhaul of the main centrifugal purifier unit within the 8-hour planned window” or “Reduced recurring maintenance defects on assigned auxiliary equipment by 15% through improved PM execution.”
Basic Electrical Systems Troubleshooting: Include proficiency diagnosing and rectifying basic electrical faults (e.g., motor trips, sensor failures) on auxiliary machinery and control circuits.
Emergency Response: Highlight competence in engine room emergency response (fire, flooding, blackouts), ensuring quick isolation and recovery procedures are followed.
Choose Superbresume.com to craft a Third Engineer resume that stands out in the essential maritime engineering sector. Our platform offers tailored templates optimized for ATS, ensuring your skills in STCW CoC, auxiliary maintenance, and watchkeeping competence shine. With expert guidance, pre-written content, and real-time feedback, we help you highlight achievements like reducing equipment defects or leading successful fuel transfers. Whether you manage auxiliary machinery or stand watch, our tools make it easy to create a polished, results-driven resume. Trust Superbresume.com to showcase your expertise in reliable, safe, and efficient engine room operations. Start building your career today!
20 Key Skills for a Third Engineer Resume
| STCW Third Engineer CoC | Auxiliary Machinery Overhaul & Maintenance |
| Engine Room Watchkeeping (Independent) | Planned Maintenance System (PMS) Operation (AMOS/MAXIMO) |
| Fuel/Lube Oil Transfer & Treatment (Purifiers) | Regulatory Compliance (MARPOL/SOLAS/PSC Readiness) |
10 Do’s for a Third Engineer Resume
Tailor Your Resume: Customize for the specific vessel type and propulsion system (e.g., emphasize diesel-electric, emphasize chemical tanker safety).
Highlight Certifications/CoC: List active STCW Third Engineer CoC, HV Awareness, and ERM training prominently.
Quantify Achievements: Include metrics on machinery availability rate, successful maintenance completion rates, volume of fuel transferred, or efficiency gains in assigned duties.
Use Action Verbs: Start bullet points with verbs like “maintained,” “executed,” “stood watch,” “troubleshooted,” or “managed.”
Showcase Procedural Mastery: Detail the methodology and the strategic, quantified reliability/compliance result of 3-4 key maintenance or operational projects.
Include Soft Skills: Highlight discipline, technical problem-solving, attention to detail (logs), and strong teamwork.
Optimize for ATS: Use standard maritime section titles and incorporate key STCW, PMS, and system terms.
Keep It Professional: Use a clean, consistent font and professional layout.
Emphasize Maintenance and Compliance: Clearly articulate expertise in hands-on auxiliary machinery PM and strict regulatory adherence.
Proofread Thoroughly: Eliminate typos or jargon for a professional document.
10 Don’ts for a Third Engineer Resume
Don’t Overload with Jargon: Avoid confusing, internal ship or company acronyms; use standardized marine engineering and regulatory terminology.
Don’t Exceed Two Pages: Keep your resume concise, focusing on high-impact engine room maintenance and watchkeeping achievements.
Don’t Omit Dates: Include full dates for sea service and CoC renewals.
Don’t Use Generic Templates: Tailor your resume specifically to the specialized operational and maintenance duties of a Third Engineer.
Don’t List Irrelevant Skills: Focus on maintenance, watchkeeping, compliance, auxiliary systems, and oil management.
Don’t Skip Metrics: Quantify results wherever possible; availability, PM completion, and compliance are key metrics.
Don’t Use Complex Formats: Avoid highly stylized elements or confusing graphics.
Don’t Ignore Technology: Include explicit experience with PMS (AMOS/MAXIMO) and diagnostic tools.
Don’t Include Outdated Experience: Omit non-maritime or non-engineering jobs over 15 years old.
Don’t Forget to Update: Refresh for new CoC upgrades, successful maintenance projects, or advanced system training.
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