Ship's Engineer - ANZSCO 231212
Skilled occupation profile
Ship's Engineer
ANZSCO 231212Ship's Engineer controls and manages the operation and maintenance of a ship's plant and equipment. Registration or licensing is required.
Occupation guide
Occupation details and migration pathways
This guide brings together the key occupation tasks, possible visa pathways and skills assessment information for Ship's Engineer ANZSCO 231212.
Typical tasks and duties
Ship's engineers may perform the following tasks:
- ensure that the main engines and associated machinery, electrical, refrigeration, air conditioning and cargo-handling equipment on ships are operating efficiently
- monitor automatic data recording equipment, or record readings manually on ships without such equipment
- analyse the readings for trends and make adjustments to machinery operation as required
- carry out regular maintenance of the main engine and repair defective auxiliary equipment
- stand watch as officer in charge of the engineering watch at sea and in port
- ensure that vessel operations do not create pollution
- maintain engine room stores and record usage of parts and equipment
- supervise staff and carry out major maintenance work while the ship is in port
- be involved with the operation of small craft such as patrol boats, tugs, river ferries and port authority vessels.
Possible visa pathways
This occupation appears on CSOL and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Occupations. The right visa pathway depends on factors such as your age, English level, qualifications, work experience, skills assessment, points score, nomination options and employer sponsorship.
Skills assessment
For skilled migration purposes, Ship's Engineer may require a suitable skills assessment. The correct assessment pathway depends on the visa stream and your personal circumstances.
Legacy subclass 187 pathway
Do you currently hold, or have you previously held, a subclass 457 or 482 visa?
If you have worked for a sponsoring employer in regional Australia, please note that Ship's Engineer — ANZSCO 231212 was included in the legacy Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) occupation list. The subclass 187 Direct Entry stream is closed to new applications, but the Temporary Residence Transition stream may remain available to certain transitional subclass 457 and subclass 482 workers. Eligibility is limited and depends on your visa history, relevant dates, sponsored regional employment, employer nomination, age, English and other requirements. Being included on this occupation list does not establish eligibility.
If this may describe your circumstances, we can assess whether the subclass 187 transitional arrangements may still apply to you.
Check your options
Check your skilled migration options
If Ship's Engineer is your nominated occupation, complete our skilled visa assessment form so we can review your possible migration pathways.
Reviewed by Principal Migration Consultant
Reviewed by Mohammad Reza Azimi
This occupation page has been reviewed for migration context by Shada Migration Services. Mohammad has assisted clients with Australian migration matters since 2009 and holds a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law from the Australian National University.
Last reviewed: July 2026
