Welding & Propulsion Technology in Shipbuilding – Specialists, Job Responsibilities, & Salary

What do specialists in welding and joining technology do in shipbuilding?

Welding and joining technology is an integral part of shipbuilding. It is a highly specialized engineering discipline—and shipbuilding is one of its most natural and demanding fields of application. Engineers and technicians plan, validate, and monitor the joining processes. Trained welders perform the welding work in accordance with the approved specifications. This results in robust assemblies and ship sections that, together, form the ship’s load-bearing structure.. This distinction—joining vs. integration—is the essence of good welding and joining techniques in shipbuilding.

Responsibilities of Welding and Joining Technology Specialists

In shipbuilding, specialists in welding and joining technology are much more than just skilled workers. Depending on their qualifications, they will take on responsibilities in welding supervision, process planning, quality assurance, and documentation. Its core activities include:

• Development and Optimization of Welding Processes: New steels, new alloys, new sheet thicknesses, and new structural geometries require customized welding procedure specifications (WPS). Welding procedures are qualified in accordance with the relevant standards and the requirements of the respective classification society. A procedure test in accordance with DIN EN ISO 15614 can serve as the basis for the welding procedure specification.
• Preparation of welding procedure specifications (WPS): Appropriate welding procedures must be available for welding operations that affect quality. The scope and approval of these procedures depend on the material, process, design, and the requirements of the classification society.
• Coordination and Monitoring of Robotic Welding Systems: Modern shipyards use automated welding systems for panel production and repetitive standard welds. Welding supervision, automation technology, and plant operation work together in robot-assisted processes. Their responsibilities include setting up the processes, monitoring relevant parameters, and checking weld quality.
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): After welding, the quality of the welds must be inspected—without damaging them. Appropriately qualified inspection personnel perform visual, ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, or penetrant inspections. The welding supervisor can plan and coordinate the inspections and incorporate the results into the quality assurance process.
• Quality Assurance and Documentation: All welding work on safety-critical structures must be fully documented—including welder qualifications, procedures used, test results, and nonconformities. This documentation is part of the class documentation.
• Metallurgical Evaluation: If welds fail or exhibit defects, the cause must be analyzed metallurgically—cracks, porosity, bonding defects, and the risk of work hardening. Specialists understand the metallurgical causes and can implement targeted corrective measures.
• Research and Implementation of New Processes: Laser-beam hybrid welding, electron beam welding, friction stir welding for aluminum, additive manufacturing (3D metal printing)—new processes are opening up possibilities that are increasingly being utilized in shipbuilding. Specialists oversee their implementation from the testing phase through to production readiness.

Training and Qualification Levels

There are various paths to certification for careers in welding and joining technology. Welders typically demonstrate their practical skills by passing welding certification exams. For welding coordination tasks, the IIW offers, among others, the IWS, IWT, and IWE certifications. The entry requirements vary depending on the certification level.:

• International Welder (IW): IInternationally harmonized qualification for the practical performance of specific welding processes, materials, and application areas
• International Welding Specialist (IWS): Qualification for specific welding coordination tasks at the specialized proficiency level
• International Welding Technician (IWT): Middle management; Advanced-level qualification for tasks related to welding coordination, material selection, process planning, and quality assurance
• International Welding Engineer (IWE): HThe highest qualification level awarded by the IIW for comprehensive welding coordination tasks. The specific responsibilities an IWE assumes within a company depend on their specific appointment and the organizational structure.

In addition, specialists can earn certifications in nondestructive testing (NDT qualification levels 1 through 3, for example, in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9712; for international projects, other recognized certification systems may be relevant) — for ultrasound, X-ray, magnetic particle, and other testing methods. Level 2 personnel can perform, evaluate, and document inspections in accordance with established procedures. Level 3 personnel assume greater technical responsibility, such as for inspection instructions and the selection of procedures. The specific requirements depend on the inspection procedures, the project, and the classification specifications..

Salary and Demand

The income of welding and joining technology specialists depends largely on their level of qualification. As a general guide:

• International Welding Specialist (IWS): 3,500–4,500 € gross per month
• International Welding Technician (IWT): €4,000–5,500 gross per month
• Experienced International Welding Engineer (IWE): 5,500–7,500 € gross per month
• Senior Welding Supervisor / Project Manager: up to €8,000 and more

Shipyards and maritime suppliers need qualified personnel for welding supervision, process planning, and quality assurance. The specific demand depends on the order backlog, location, and area of specialization.: The construction of offshore platforms and LNG tankers requires welds that meet particularly stringent requirements; Naval vessels (submarines, frigates) demand the highest standards of quality; and the growing field of additive manufacturing—3D metal printing for maritime spare parts and components—is opening up entirely new areas of opportunity for welding and joining technology specialists.

Specialists in Propulsion Systems, Turbines, LNG, and Alternative Propulsion Systems

Emissions regulations and new fuel options are transforming maritime propulsion technology. Large two-stroke engines remain important in deep-sea shipping. At the same time, they are being adapted for other fuels and supplemented by electric, hybrid, or other propulsion systems.. New systems—electric marine motors, gas turbines, LNG propulsion systems, fuel cells, and hybrid propulsion systems—are shaping the future of maritime propulsion. This development is creating an enormous demand for highly specialized professionals who can combine traditional mechanical engineering expertise with knowledge of these new technologies.

Responsibilities of Drive Technology Specialists

Specialists in propulsion systems, turbines, LNG, and alternative propulsion systems handle a wide range of tasks in shipbuilding—from the development of new systems to commissioning and maintenance during operation:

• Development, Testing, and Technical Approval of New Propulsion Systems: New propulsion concepts are first built as prototypes, then tested and optimized. Engineers specializing in various disciplines design and integrate LNG tanks, gas supply systems, vaporizers, and measurement, control, and safety systems. Installation and commissioning are performed by appropriately qualified specialists.
• Installation of main engines, gearboxes, and propellers: The mechanical integration of the powertrain—engine, clutch, transmission, shaft line, and propeller—requires the highest precision in alignment and assembly. Alignment errors lead to increased wear and vibration during operation.
• Integration of Exhaust Systems: Exhaust aftertreatment systems (SCR catalysts for NOx, scrubbers for SOx) must be integrated into the overall powertrain system and tuned to the engine's characteristics
• Power Distribution and Energy Management: On ships with multiple energy sources (diesel generators, batteries, fuel cells), the energy management system must be designed to maximize overall system efficiency and minimize emissions
• LNG-specific systems: For LNG-powered ships, propulsion specialists design and install cryogenic tank systems (operating at minus 162 degrees Celsius), vaporizers, gas treatment systems, and the comprehensive safety systems required by the IMO’s IGF Code
• Integration of Fuel Cells and Battery Systems: Fuel cells and high-voltage batteries are used in particular on research vessels, ferries, and submarines. Integrating these systems into the overall propulsion system requires expertise in electrochemistry, power electronics, and thermal management.
• Commissioning and Testing: Before a ship is delivered, all propulsion systems are thoroughly tested—first in dry dock, then during sea trials. Propulsion specialists conduct these tests and document the results for classification societies and the client.

Profile and Qualifications

Propulsion system specialists are typically engineers with backgrounds in mechanical engineering, energy engineering, or marine engineering—supplemented by experienced marine engineers with specific additional qualifications. The most important areas of expertise are:

• Turbine Technology: Gas turbines are primarily used on certain naval vessels and some high-speed specialty ships. Other propulsion systems are more common on merchant ships.; their design and maintenance is a specialized field
• Electric Mobility and Power Electronics: Frequency converters, inverters, and energy management systems for electric drives
• Control Engineering: Complex drive systems must be controlled by sophisticated control loops—speed, power distribution, load transients
• Cryogenic Technology: For LNG systems; handling low-boiling-point liquids at minus 162 degrees Celsius; insulation technology; safety systems
• Alternative Fuels: Methanol, ammonia, hydrogen—each fuel has its own specific requirements for storage, processing, and safe handling
• Classification and Approval Regulations: IGF Code for Gas Propulsion Systems, SOLAS Requirements for Propulsion Systems, the relevant regulations of classification societies such as DNV or Lloyd’s Register

Salary and Career Prospects

The salaries of drive technology specialists reflect the rarity and complexity of their skills. Depending on experience, specialization, and area of responsibility, the following salary ranges are realistic:

• Entry-level / Marine Mechanic with Additional Qualifications: 4,500–5,500 € gross per month
• Experienced Engineers (Propulsion / LNG): 5,500–7,000 € gross per month
• Senior Specialists and Project Managers: €7,000–8,000 gross per month and more

Stricter requirements for emissions and energy efficiency are increasing the development and integration efforts required for marine propulsion systems. As a result, knowledge of alternative fuels and electric systems is becoming increasingly important. The energy transition in shipping—driven by IMO climate targets, rising fuel prices, and international regulatory pressure—is making propulsion specialists the most sought-after engineers in the entire maritime industry. LNG is a well-established option among alternative marine fuels. Its long-term impact on the climate depends, among other things, on its source, methane emissions, and engine technology.; Methanol and ammonia are becoming increasingly important; Hydrogen and fuel cells are being tested in various pilot and specialized applications. Their future use depends, among other things, on availability, cost, infrastructure, and safety requirements.. Each new generation of drive systems creates a need for specialists who can develop, install, commission, and maintain these technologies.

Real-World Example: All Disciplines Involved in the Construction of a Research Vessel

To illustrate how all the specialized fields described here interact in practice, the construction of a modern research vessel offers a clear example. Research vessels are among the most technically sophisticated types of ships: They must be quiet (so as not to interfere with measurement equipment), capable of precise positioning (for scientific work at sea), energy-efficient (for long voyages to remote waters), and equipped with a wide variety of scientific systems. Each field makes an indispensable contribution:

• Technical Systems Planners for Utility and Equipment Engineering design systems for drinking water, wastewater, ventilation, and air conditioning—tailored to the specific requirements of the onboard laboratories and research equipment
• Hydrodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Engineers optimize the hull shape not only for minimal drag and fuel consumption, but also for minimal noise and vibration transmission into the water—a critical feature for hydroacoustic research
• Welding and Joining Technology Specialists They develop high-strength welded joints for the hull and ensure that all welds comply with the strict classification society regulations for research vessels; non-destructive testing (NDT) ensures consistent quality
• Propulsion and Turbine Engineering Engineers They incorporate a hybrid propulsion system consisting of LNG generators and electric motors with battery storage. A battery storage system can temporarily enable locally emission-free and quiet electric operation, provided that its power output and storage capacity are appropriately sized.
• Shipyard Engineering and Production Specialists digitally coordinate the entire construction process, track the status of each section and system in real time, and ensure that all trade teams can work on schedule without interfering with one another

Ultimately, all these systems come together to form a research vessel that consumes less energy, produces fewer emissions, can be positioned with greater precision, and is equipped with state-of-the-art scientific technology. Coordinated planning can help limit construction time, rework, and additional costs.

Future Prospects and the Joint Contribution of All Disciplines

The shipbuilding industry is undergoing a transformation that affects and challenges all of the specialized fields described in equal measure. Sustainability, digitalization, and international regulation are driving innovation at a pace that the industry has rarely experienced in its long history:

• Welding and Joining Technology needs new materials—high-strength lightweight steels, Aluminum Alloys and Hybrid Material Composites, additively manufactured components—mastering them and new processes such as friction stir welding and Validate laser-beam hybrid welding for suitable applications and integrate it into manufacturing processes
• Drive Technology is facing what may be the biggest transformation since the introduction of marine diesel engines: hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and battery systems require fundamentally new expertise in planning, installation, and operation
• Systems designers, hydrodynamicists, and shipbuilding engineering specialists:  Leading shipyards are already using digital models, simulations, and data-driven production control to varying degrees. Depending on the application, full digital twins and AI-supported processes are at different stages of maturity.

Together, all these specialists combine craftsmanship with engineering expertise and digital proficiency. They are not isolated groups of specialists—they are a connected team working toward a common goal: building ships that are safer, more efficient, cleaner, and more economical than their predecessors. For professionals who are willing to continuously develop their skills, modern shipbuilding offers a technically demanding field with various opportunities for specialization and continuing education.