Dear candidate, after doing marine engineering you can become Chief Engineer. Then as a “Chief Engineer” you need to work in an office for a few years. It is not impossible but one must take a few years to actually be able to manage the fleet. You have to study the market, like the pricing of your depreciating assets. You have to develop a set of PR skills for you to meet the buyers and the people in operations who actually use your type of vessels who you meet periodically. You have to understand the bidding process or direct negotiations. Know the laws of the land regarding this industry.  Understand the charter parties, the bank guarantees, and all other types of contracts. You have to ensure long term sustainability of the most vessels which are still on loan. In short, you are no longer taking care of only a pair of engines, you are juggling all of these things at once. You have an added advantage of having technical knowledge and that will help in your dealings with your clients.

Then you can become a Ship Manager after Chief Engineer. There may or may not be other ways too, but I know this is one of them.

Hope, it helps!