Naval Architect

Job Overview

Job Category

Engineers

Sectors

Education

Environment

Outdoors only

Career Demand

Limited

About This Career

Offshore oil and gas platforms are some of the most challenging work sites in the oil and gas industry. Any exploration or production activities that take place in water require specialized marine vessels and installations. A Naval Architect is the person behind these specializations. They plan and manage all aspects from the concept through to the delivery of the final product.

Oil and gas exploration and production occurs not only on land but also in marine environments. These near-shore and deep-water activities require specialized marine vessels and installations to conduct exploration and production of energy resources as well as supply, transport and maintenance vessels to service these marine installations. The Naval Architect is responsible for planning the whole building process of a vessel, and managing all aspects from the concept to the delivery of the final product.

Naval Architects are charged with designing vessels that meet the requirements for which they have been commissioned and usually work closely with Marine Engineers to ensure that their designs will allow for the incorporation of the numerous systems that vessels require for their operation including safety, propulsion, navigation.

Naval Architects prepare plans, draft design and construction blueprints, and specifications, including any special provisions leading to the concept, design and construction of marine vessels.

In this occupation, activities may include:

Developing vessel concepts and design using a variety of CAD and ship-building specific software.
Supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers.
Overseeing and writing reports and appropriate regulatory applications.
Analyzing and defining system requirements which impact the ability to achieve project defined margins, classification society design approvals, and certificates from certification authorities.
Assessing and investigating defects in design and construction and proposing solutions to maintain project integrity.

Education

A bachelor's degree in an appropriate engineering discipline is required.
A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

Licensing

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports, and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

Additional Requirements

Depending on the company and responsibilities, typical requirements may include:
Experience with engineering software applications such as SFRAME, STAAD, RISA
AeroHydro MultiSurf
Autodesk AutoCAD
Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
Intergraph SmartMarine 3D
ShipConstructor
Siemens PLM Software NX
The Napa Group NAPA
ANSYS AQWA
ANSYS ASAS
ANSYS FLUENT
Autodesk Algor Simulation
Creative System GHS
Herbert Software Solutions HECSALV
HydroComp NavCad
MSC Software Nastran
Proteus Engineering FastShip
Seasafe Marine Software Seasafe
Strand7
Extensive knowledge of all relevant codes and standards
Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements. Marine work in general includes:
Basic Survival Training
Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)