The effects of engine room equipment on ships, especially on operating costs and navigational safety, are of great importance. This effect may have positive or negative consequences depending on the order, discipline and know-how with which the operations (operational activities) related to ship machinery are carried out. The multiplier effects of these results are seen in basic parameters such as environmental cleanliness, safety, fuel consumption, stability and comfort. In this context, the Department of Marine Engineering Operations was born out of the necessity to pay special attention and conduct special researches throughout the voyage life of ships in order to eliminate the negative aspects of the above-mentioned effects and to improve the positive aspects. Today, keywords used in the field of ships and maritime such as green ship, renewable energy, alternative fuels, emission reduction, ballast water treatment systems, vibration analysis are directly related to the fields of study of Marine Engineering Operations. In addition, there is a need for qualified marine machinery operating engineers who are trained in terms of first detection, diagnosis and solution generation in case of any malfunction, damage and similar situations that may occur in the main engine, auxiliary machines or on-deck machines. In today's world, where commercial competition is very intense and consumer needs compete with time, the professional competencies to be gained by individuals to be employed in the field of Marine Engineering Operations have gained great importance in order to prevent disruption of maritime trade in terms of both time and costs due to such malfunctions that may occur on the ship. Both domestic and foreign shipowner companies especially express their need for our graduates at career days, fairs, professional and academic meetings.

In this context, KTU Department of Marine Engineering Operations was established in 2016 in line with the future and goals of the maritime sector, with the aim of training qualified "Chief Engineer of the Oceangoing Watchkeeping" for the needs of the world's maritime fleets, especially our country. The Department of Marine Engineering Operations started education for the first time in the 2021-2022 academic calendar with a quota of 30 students. Following the compulsory preparatory class (English), the program type of undergraduate courses is 30% English. The English preparatory class is conducted by the School of Foreign Languages at Karadeniz Technical University Kanuni (Central) Campus. 30% of the undergraduate courses are taught in English. Theoretical courses are held in the classrooms of KTU Sürmene Faculty of Marine Sciences Çamburnu Campus and KTU Coastal Facilities Campus. Applied courses are held in the workshops and laboratories of KTU Sürmene Faculty of Marine Sciences Muammer Dereli Campus and KTU Sürmene Abdullah Kanca Vocational School. Education in the department is carried out in accordance with maritime customs and traditions, and students are also obliged to wear uniforms.

The course curriculum of the department, taking into account the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW-78), "Regulation on Seafarers and Pilots" published in the Official Gazette dated 10/2/2018 and numbered 30328, "Seafarers and Pilots Training and Examination Directive" published in the Official Gazette dated 12/02/2018 and numbered 12159, 13. 02.2006 dated and 26079 numbered Official Gazette, "Regulation on the Principles of Maritime Education Supervision and Quality Standards" and "Regulation on Seafarer Training Courses" published in the Official Gazette dated 22.04.2007 and numbered 26501.

The curriculum of the Department of Marine Engineering Operations is prepared according to the STCW 78 / 2010 regulations (Standards for the Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers) Convention. At the end of four years of study, students are required to complete 150 working days of Workshop Internship. In addition, students who complete the 30-credit Offshore Internship for 7 months during the summer vacation in the second semester of Class III, complete the A-II/1 Section of STCW 78, which is the first step of education and training. Students who have reached this status are eligible to take the Oceangoing Watchkeeping Engineer exam conducted by the Seafarers Examination Center. Those who continue 7th and 8th semesters and finish them successfully will have completed A-II/2 of STCW 78. Students who successfully complete the English preparatory class and all the courses in the 4-year (8 semesters) education plan and have at least 240 ECTS are awarded a bachelor's degree in the field of Marine Engineering Operations. Graduated students first take the Oceangoing Watchkeeping Engineer exam administered by the Seafarers Examination Center (GASM) affiliated to the Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry. If they are successful, they receive the title of "Oceangoing Watchkeeping Engineer ". After 36 months or more sea service, they take the exam again and receive the title of "Oceangoing Second Engineer ". Likewise, after 36 months or more sea service with this title, they take a final exam and if they are successful, they receive the title of "Oceangoing Watchkeeping  Chief Engineer ".

The Department of Marine Engineering Operations provides education in two campuses in Sürmene district of Trabzon. In Muammer Dereli Campus, there are simulator systems equipped with the latest technology for student applications (Bridge, ARPA radar, Machinery, Liquid cargo handling and GMDSS communication simulator), navigation, maritime safety, seamanship and computer laboratories, as well as the Maritime Safety Training Center consisting of a fire training unit and a ship abandonment system belonging to the Department of Marine Transportation Management Engineering in Çamburnu Campus. In addition, there is a Dormitory building on the Muammer Dereli Campus, which meets the accommodation needs of the students, and an indoor sports hall where they can perform sports activities. In addition to these, some theoretical courses starting from the 1st grade are held in our faculty annex building in KTU Coastal Facilities campus located near KTU central campus.

The conformity of the education in the department with the IMO STCW 78 convention has been approved by the Independent Supervisory Board of the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate of Maritime Affairs. In addition, ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System approved by RINA, an International Rating Organization, is implemented in the Department.

In our country, graduates of this department will be able to work as "Oceangoing Watchkeeping Engineer" in Turkish and foreign flagged passenger ships, sea buses, bulk cargo, container, tanker and RO-RO ships. Graduates are also employed as inspectors and technical managers in maritime companies on land, port and port management organizations, classification societies, shipyards, relevant units of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, private companies that manufacture, maintain and maintain ship machinery. As in our country, there is an intense demand for "Oceangoing Watchkeeping Engineer" in the world.

It is the person responsible for the technical part of the ship's navigation and management, responsible for all kinds of mechanical, electronic devices, boilers, main engine, auxiliary machines and cargo systems on board, both in terms of planned maintenance and maintenance operations and in terms of operation. In short, they are the seafarers who are responsible for all technical works on board, except for propulsion operations.

The Marine Engineering Operation curriculum mainly aims to prepare students for the duties of engine watch officer on merchant ships. Graduates can work as chief engineer on oceangoing vessels following the engine officer period on suitable vessels. They can also find jobs as engineers responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of ships and as technical officers of commercial ship fleets. They can also find work on land, in the energy sector and in positions related to hotel technical services in the tourism industry.