Introducing Remote Troubleshooting for the Marine Engineering Technology Curriculum

A well-rounded Marine Engineering Technology curriculum enables graduates to utilize their invaluable skillset, comprised of modern techniques and experiential knowledge to design, install, troubleshoot, and repair systems related to the marine industry.However, the perpetual search for improved marine powerplant efficiency and reduced personnel aboard ship has led to increasingly sophisticated power plants and automation.Due to increased plant sophistication, a merchant mariner must be capable of collaborating with shoreside support from vendors and engineers via long range high frequency radio, satellite phone, or email.This paper focuses on the introduction from the viewpoint of shoreside support by simulating a shipboard technical problem wherein the student plays the role of a port engineer.In this troubleshooting scenario.for a remote shipboard issue there is no physical access to the vessel, only the information provided by the onboard engineer.Our objective is to duplicate a common scenario that happens in industry, where a port engineer (the student) is requested to remotely troubleshoot a technical problem on board a vessel armed with a poor-quality system diagram provided by the onboard engineer and limited information.Simulated remote system troubleshooting is held via verbal scenarios designed to engage the students' limited knowledge.In these verbal scenarios, the student simulates the role of shoreside support, enabling an untraditional viewpoint for the modern marine engineer.Our expected contributions include the introduction of remote troubleshooting to students, which will facilitate improved communication, critical thinking, problem solving, hand tracing shipboard systems, electronic drafting, and a broader knowledge of how best to collaborate and communicate for success when remotely troubleshooting.