IC's - Interior Communications Electrician

Interior Communications Electricians (ICs) install, maintain and repair the equipment needed for interior communications within ships and shore facilities. These communication systems include public address systems, interior telephone systems, alarm systems, engine telegraphs to communicate orders for changes in engine speed from the bridge (ship's command station) to the engine room, certain kinds of ship control and equipment monitoring devices, the ship's gyrocompass, the rudder position indicator, audio-visual equipment for the ship's TV entertainment systems, advanced navigation and various other equipment.

The duties performed by IC's include:

Maintaining and repairing interior communications systems;
Preparing and interpreting blueprints, wiring diagrams and sketches;
Installing and inspecting dry cell and storage batteries;
Recharging wet cell batteries;
Testing interior communications and gyrocompass equipment;
Installing telephone and other communications circuits, boxes, switchboards and bell buzzer systems;
Maintaining plotters and dead reckoning equipment;
Maintaining and operating TV systems;

Working Environment :

People in the IC rating work in many different situations, at sea and ashore. While most of their work is performed indoors, it may be in a clean or dirty environment of a shop-like nature, and it may be in any kind of climate or temperature. IC's usually work closely with others. Most systems IC's work on is of the modern solid state electronic type, making the rating a very technical profession.

A-School (Job School) Information

Great Lakes, IL -- 10 weeks

Some Interior Communications Electricians who graduate from "A" school go on to advanced training courses such as gyrocompass and advanced TV maintenance. Others are assigned to duty stations where they can continue learning their rating through on-the-job training.