Maintenance Supervisor (MS) / Chief Mechanic Course

Course Overview

The Maintenance Supervisor (also referred to as the Chief Mechanic, Rig Mechanic, or Technical Section Leader on some Mobile Offshore Units) is the senior-most rank in the mechanical department on a MODU or offshore work barge. On non-self-propelled MOUs, the role carries full accountability for the power plant, auxiliary machinery, and drilling equipment.

Elite Offshore Academy's Maintenance Supervisor course prepares candidates for that role in line with IMO Resolution A.1079(28) — the international competence standard adopted on 4 December 2013 for personnel on Mobile Offshore Units. The course is approved by the Liberia (LISCR) flag state and is open to mid-level and senior offshore mechanical professionals worldwide.

The programme is delivered fully online, in a live instructor-led format. There is no in-person attendance requirement. Candidates from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia have completed the course from their home base.

On propelled offshore rigs the Chief Mechanic is considered a superior position to the Marine Chief Engineer, and is typically paid at a higher rate. On non-propelled MODUs the Maintenance Supervisor handles both drilling machinery and the diesel power generation plant.

Pre-requisites

The Maintenance Supervisor course is open to mid-level and senior offshore professionals with an engineering background. To enrol, candidates must meet one of the two prerequisite tracks below:

Track 1 — Experience: Four years of service aboard MOUs including at least one year in a supervisory technical role — mechanic, motorman, sub-sea engineer, electrician, toolpusher, unit superintendent, crane operator, or equivalent.

Track 2 — Degree-accelerated: A Bachelor of Science degree from a recognised school of technology, plus one year of supervisory service in any of the following roles: barge engineer, mechanic, motorman, sub-sea engineer, electrician, toolpusher, unit superintendent, crane operator, or equivalent.

Recommended supporting credentials (not prerequisites for the course, but standard on the rig):

•    A valid offshore medical (OGUK or equivalent)

•    BOSIET / FOET safety certification

Any specialist engine, electrical, or hydraulics certifications relevant to your installation

Curriculum

The Maintenance Supervisor course follows the competence framework set out in IMO Resolution A.1079(28) for personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of the power plant and auxiliary machinery on a non-self-propelled MOU. The eight subject areas below are each delivered with reference to current operator practice and supplemented by case studies from real MOU operations.

1.    Operation and maintenance of engines — Diesel power generators, prime movers, fuel and lube oil systems; planned-maintenance schedules; common failure modes.

2.    Operation and maintenance of auxiliary machinery — Compressors, pumps, separators, HVAC, fresh-water and bilge systems; load management on the auxiliary plant.

3.    Detection of machinery malfunction and faults — Vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, performance trending; condition-monitoring discipline.

4.    Maintenance and repair problems — Root-cause analysis; planning major overhauls; spares and inventory; managing third-party contractors offshore.

5.    Operation and maintenance of fire detection and control system — Fixed and portable firefighting systems; periodic testing regime; integration with the muster

and emergency plan.

6.    Safe working practices — Occupational safety, health, and hygiene; permits to work; lockout-tagout; work in enclosed spaces; hot work.

7.    Maintenance of survival craft and launching appliances — Lifeboats, life rafts, davits, releases, and on-load release gear; SOLAS-compliant testing cycles.

Pollution prevention procedures — MARPOL-compliant waste handling; oil-record book discipline; bunkering and de-bunkering procedures.

Delivery

The Maintenance Supervisor course runs as a five-day live instructor-led online programme, scheduled to accommodate candidates across multiple time zones. There is no recorded-video component — every session is live, with an instructor present, and candidates participate in discussions, machinery case studies, and assessment exercises in real time.

All you need is a stable broadband connection and a quiet space to work. Course materials and pre-reading are distributed in advance.

Cohorts are scheduled to accommodate participants in:

•    The Americas (North and South America)

•    Europe, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia

•    The Middle East and North Africa

•    Sub-Saharan and West Africa

•    South Asia, South-East Asia, and the Pacific

Cohorts commence in the fourth week of every month. Contact admissions for the current schedule and corporate rates.

Certification

On successful completion of the course assessment, you receive a Certificate of Proficiency approved by the Liberia International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) flag state, aligned with IMO Resolution A.1079(28). Each certificate carries a unique reference number and is independently verifiable online via the EOA verification portal.

Validity: 5 years from the date of issue. Refresher training is recommended at the end of the validity period and is often required by individual operators.

Recognition: The certificate satisfies the requirements for Liberian and (commonly) Marshall Islands licences for Maintenance Supervisor / Chief Mechanic. It is widely accepted by drilling contractors, accommodation-barge operators, pipe-lay contractors, and other MOU operators that work under Liberia-flag and IMO-compliant frameworks.

Who Will Hire You

The Maintenance Supervisor / Chief Mechanic role is one of the highest-paid senior offshore appointments in the mechanical line. Earnings vary by region, unit type, and rotation, with senior Chief Mechanics on MODUs and pipe-lay vessels commonly earning USD 110,000–180,000 annually. Employers actively recruiting MS-certified personnel include:

•    Drilling contractors — running jack-up and semi-submersible MOUs, where the MS handles drilling machinery and the diesel power plant

•    Pipe-lay operators — running construction and pipe-laying barges with heavy auxiliary machinery loads

•    Accommodation operators — running flotels and accommodation barges

•    Wind farm operators — running construction and installation MOUs in offshore wind

National oil companies and IOCs — operating their own MOUs and FPSOs

FAQs