What Does a Wiper on a Ship Do?

Are you looking to find out more about entry level cargo jobs? Thinking that a career in the Merchant Navy / Merchant Marines might be exactly what you’re looking for?

Those with a mind for all things mechanical or electrical will be found working in seafarer jobs in the Engine Department.

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at what a Wiper does on a ship.

First of all, a Wiper is one of the most junior entry level cargo ship jobs, and as the name suggests, you will be doing a lot of wiping and cleaning!

This means wiping down the vessel’s engine spaces, equipment and machinery and making sure they are kept clean so that they can operate correctly and efficiently. This also involves greasing and degreasing and generally making sure that the engine room and work spaces are kept clean and tidy.

As a Wiper you may also need to fill in for other members of the department if needed, and stand watch as part of the watch team, however you will not be assigned a watch yourself.

Because a Wiper on a ship is an entry level ship job, the good news is, there is plenty of opportunity to progress in your maritime career.

Basically, Wiper jobs are apprenticeships for Marine Oiler jobs and a Wiper will eventually become a QMED — a Qualified Man of the Engine Department. This means an upgrade of the Wiper’s duties and responsibilities to then include tasks such as repairing and maintaining the actual engine, as well as the auxiliary power systems.

The good news for anyone thinking about a career in seafarer jobs and about becoming a Wiper is that this is one of the jobs at sea that doesn’t require too many qualifications.

In fact the position of Wiper aims to give the seafarer a grounding in plant layout and the basic duties that need to be performed in the Engine Department, all while building up that crucial sea time.

However, a Wiper will need to be familiar with a ship’s safety equipment and also understand vessel operations. Like most maritime jobs, a level of fluency in English, which is the main language used onboard due to the fact that a crew could be made up of different nationalities, will be expected by many employers.

They will also need to have passed a medical test (probably also including a drug test).

The majority of employers won’t expect a Wiper to have years upon years of experience in this seafarer rank, but if you do have experience or have previously worked in a similar role, you may find it easier to find your next contract.

Yes, a Wiper’s job may be on one of the bottom rungs of the seafarer job ladder but if you want to pursue your dreams and a career in the maritime industry, this is a first rate way of getting some real life experience of working on a ship.

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