MARINE ENGINEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 2

MARINE ENGINEERS.

APPOINTMENT OF MR ROBERT M'KINNON. (From Ouf Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 19.

By the appointment of Mr Robert M'Kinnon as examiner of marine engineers, the New Zealand Marine Department enter upon a new phase and make provision for the introduction of the internal combustion engine into marine engineering. Mr M'Kinnon has specialised in internal combustion engines for a number of years, and presumably his business in the Dominion will be to arrange for the training of and to formulate the examinations for those wishing to qualify as marine engineers.

The arrangements in this country for qualification as a motor marine engineer require that a man should have at least four years on land in motor works of an approved type. Then he may go to sea as a junior engineer, and must have a regular watch for 18 months at least with motor engines before being allowed to sit for his first examination for second engineer’s certificate. After obtaining this certificate a further 18 months’ sea service is required in a senior capacitay in charge of a regular watch before he can sit for his first-class certificate.

If a steam engineer desires to qualify for a motor endorsement he may present himself for examination for a certificate—of a standard equal to that he already holds —after nine months’ sea service on motor ships. Mr M'Kinuon, who is a native of Edinburgh, started his engineering career with the British India Steam Navigation Company in 1913, and spent four and a-half years with them.' He then turned his attention to the Diesel engine, and went through all the Diesel engine departments of Messrs Harland and Woolff, Glasgow. In 1919 he joined the Glen Line, and was second engineer on the motor ship Glengyle, and senior second engineer of the Glentara, both ships trading with China and Japan. Afterwards he held a position as engineer surveyor to the British Engine Boiler and Electric Insurance Company. He was five years and a-half in that service, and resident in Glasgow. Then he returned to the service of Messrs Harland and Wolff as their representative engineer. He acted as chief and representative engineer on the new motor ship King Edwin, and made a trip round the world. He was representative engineer on the passenger motor ship Highland Monarch. It was while he was with this ship in South America that he received a message from the Public Services’ Commissioner of New Zealand offering him the present

post. During his voyages round the world he had visited Wellington and had been in touch with the Marine Department there. At the outbreak of war the vessel in which Mr M'Kinnon was serving was acquired by the Government, and he was engaged in the transportation of troops from Australia to Egypt, and thereafter to the Dardanelles. He was present at the first landing at Anzac, and afterwards at Suvla Bay. HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS. Referring to the position of marine engineers at the present time, Mr APKinnon said:— ‘ The training of engineers for the mercantile marine is a matter which, in view of the important bearing of sea transport upon the safety and wellbeing of the Empire, and the rapid development and widening range of marine engineering, demands attention, commensurable with its importance, on the part of all responsible for this service.

“ Not only is the mechanical skill necessary to deal safely and adequately with the latest developments in this field of a higher order than previously, but the theoretical knowledge, now required of those entering the engineering branch of the merchant service has necessitated the raising of the standard of technical education in this province to such a degree that only those well equipped in this respect may hope to attain its higher ranks.” Mr and Mrs M'Kinnon will probably sailing by the new motor vessel Rangitiki on February io. In the meantime Mr M'Kinnon ‘is attached to the Boaid of Trade, where he is gaining further experience in matters which wifi be of value in his new position.