Marine Pipefitter

The human body is home to approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Because blood delivers oxygen, hormones, and nutrients to the cells that need them, this network of “pipes” is essential to one’s health and well-being.

If internal plumbing is so important for people, imagine how vital it is for machines — including ships and boats, which are powered by an internal labyrinth of pipes that carry gas, steam, and water to various engine parts.

To maintain their pipes, a person needs a Doctor. To maintain theirs, boats need a Marine Pipefitter.

When you’re a Marine Pipefitter, you’re in charge of installing and maintaining pipes on boats, including barges, naval vessels, ferries, dredges, and tankers, all of which have various piping systems for firefighting, bilge water, hydraulic steering, sanitation, potable water, hot water heating, fuel, and exhaust.

Not to be confused with a Plumber, who installs and repairs the water and waste disposal systems in homes and businesses, the Marine Pipefitter is dedicated exclusively to the layout, assembly, installation, and maintenance of piping infrastructure on marine vessels. Therefore, you don’t spend your days installing faucets and fixing toilets. Instead, you spend them following complex sets of blueprints that were created by Marine Engineers. On a daily basis, you decide what type of pipe to use, then execute the steps required to install it, including measuring, cutting, threading, bending, and soldering.

Because a pipe leak can be disastrous at sea, you also diagnose and repair broken pipes, and conduct preventive maintenance on worn equipment. At the end of the day, therefore, that basically makes you a Cardiologist for boats!