14/08/2026
From container ships and tankers to museum ships and houseboats, no two days look quite the same for CWN Marine engineer Nina Stuij.
It was that variety, and the opportunity to combine hands-on technical work with experiencing different vessels, that drew Nina to marine electronics. This week, she shares what life as a marine electronics engineer is really like.
Q: How did you get started in marine electronics?
A: I was looking for a job where I could gain experience working on different types of vessels and get to know the marine industry. I came across CWN Marine, and it seemed like a great opportunity to combine technical work with working on all kinds of vessels.
Most of our work is done while vessels are in port, but I still get the opportunity to visit many different types of vessels and work with a wide range of equipment. Marine electronics wasn’t initially a specific career path I had planned, but I quickly discovered that I really enjoy the variety and practical side of the job.
Q: What types of vessels do you work on most often?
A: Most of the vessels we work on are seagoing vessels. This can include anything from container ships, tankers, bulk carriers and general cargo vessels to Ro-Ro ships, car carriers, offshore vessels and heavy-lift vessels.
Every now and then, we also get some more unusual jobs on passenger ships, old naval vessels, museum ships, houseboats or inland vessels. You never really know what kind of vessel you are going to see next, which makes the job quite exciting.
Q: What are the most challenging conditions you have worked in at sea or in port?
A: I would say the weather is probably the biggest challenge. In summer, temperatures onboard can become extremely high, particularly inside consoles, engine rooms and small equipment spaces.
In winter, it is the complete opposite. When you have to spend several hours working high up on a mast, it can get extremely cold, especially with strong winds. You really have to be prepared for all kinds of conditions.
Q: What newer technologies are making the biggest difference onboard vessels today?
A: I think one of the biggest changes is how much more connected and integrated onboard equipment has become. Many systems that used to operate independently are now connected and able to share information.
This gives the crew access to much more information in one place and makes navigation and monitoring more efficient. At the same time, it means marine electronics technicians have to keep learning and stay up to date with new systems and software.
Q: What part of your job do you enjoy most?
A: Definitely the adventurous side of the job. You are always somewhere different, so you are never really in the same place for long. You get to visit all kinds of vessels and places that you probably wouldn't see in a normal job.
I also really enjoy the feeling when you have fixed or installed something and everything is working properly again, especially when you can see the reassurance it gives the crew because they know they can rely on their equipment. That makes the job very satisfying.
Q: What would surprise people most about working as a marine electronics engineer?
A: Probably the fact that I'm a woman working onboard vessels. I get comments or questions about it almost every day when I am onboard. People are sometimes surprised to see a woman coming onboard to work on the electronics, especially when the job involves climbing masts, working in difficult conditions or spending hours in small technical spaces.
But after a while, people usually just see you as the technician who is there to get the job done.
Thank you, Nina, for sharing your experience and giving us a glimpse into the adventurous, hands-on world of marine electronics.
