Found something that could be marginally useful in some situations with the Spire.
From the hull deck, it's possible to hit the main engine. Get a running start, jump onto the rear railing, jump as soon as you land on it, and hit the engine in mid-air. The big downside is that you'll fall off the ship, but it's still quicker than running all the way up. If the captain only wants one person on engines, I guess it could be helpful.