NOC 72603: Engineer officers, water transport
What engineer officers, water transport do
Engineer officers in water transport, operate and maintain main engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment aboard ships and other self-propelled vessels, and supervise and coordinate the activities of engine room crews. They are employed by marine transportation companies and federal government departments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate main engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment aboard ships, such as boilers, steering and deck machinery, motors, pumps, generators and condensers
- Stand engine room watch, monitoring and noting performance of engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment
- Inspect and conduct maintenance and emergency repairs to engines, machinery and all auxiliary equipment
- Supervise and coordinate the activities of the engine room crew
- Maintain records and prepare reports on engine performance and failures.
Job titles under NOC 72603
37 job titles are classified here, including chief engineer - water transport, engineer officer - water transport, fourth engineer - water transport.
- apprentice marine engineer officer
- assistant engineer - water transport
- chief engineer - water transport
- chief marine engineer - water transport
- Coast Guard vessel chief engineer
- Coast Guard vessel first watchkeeping engineer
- Coast Guard vessel marine engineer officer
- Coast Guard vessel second engineer
- Coast Guard vessel second watchkeeping engineer
- Coast Guard vessel senior engineer
- Coast Guard vessel third engineer
- Coast Guard vessel third watchkeeping engineer
- engineer officer - water transport
- factory freezer trawler chief marine engineer
- factory freezer trawler first engineer
- factory freezer trawler second engineer
- fishing vessel chief engineer
- fishing vessel engineer officer
- fourth engineer - water transport
- junior engineer - water transport
- marine engineer officer
- marine engineer officer - water transport
- marine engineer officer-cadet (except armed forces)
- marine second engineer - water transport
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Completion of a three-year cadet program in marine engineering from an approved marine training institute or Approximately three years of experience as an engine room crew member and six months of formal training at an approved marine training institute or Approximately three years of experience as an engine mechanic and six months of experience as an engine room crew member are required for certification as a fourth class marine engineer.
- A marine engineer officer certificate of competency, issued by Transport Canada, is required.
Engineer officers, water transport wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $26.78/hr | $37.00/hr | $61.54/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $25.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $55.60/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $31.11/hr | $35.00/hr | $50.21/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $25.00/hr | $47.00/hr | $55.60/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $27.47/hr | $38.27/hr | $74.79/hr |
Nova Scotia | $21.00/hr | $32.05/hr | $45.67/hr |
Quebec | $31.11/hr | $35.00/hr | $50.21/hr |
Ontario | $24.50/hr | $45.67/hr | $66.36/hr |
British Columbia | $25.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $55.60/hr |
Using NOC 72603 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 37 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Deck officers, water transport (NOC 72602)
- Managers in transportation (NOC 70020)
- Marine engineer AND naval engineer (NOC 21399)
- Marine mechanical engineer (NOC 21301)
- Water transport deck and engine room crew (NOC 74201)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for engineer officers, water transport?
Engineer officers, water transport are NOC 2021 unit group 72603. Example job titles in this group include chief engineer - water transport, engineer officer - water transport, fourth engineer - water transport, marine engineer officer.
What TEER is NOC 72603?
NOC 72603 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do engineer officers, water transport earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $37.00/hr, about $72,000 a year full-time, with a range of $26.78/hr to $61.54/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.