Career in Merchant Navy

What: The Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial fleet which deals with transporting cargo and occasionally, passengers, by sea to destinations around the world. The Merchant Navy fleet is mainly composed of cargo liners, tankers, cruisers, passenger vessels and other special types of seafaring vessels. Merchant Navy is the backbone of international trade, carrying cargo all over the world. Without the merchant navy, much of the import-export business would come to a grinding halt! Today, there is hardly any career which can fetch such high salaries at such a young age that the Merchant Navy offers. There are three distinct areas of activity in the merchant navy – navigation, engineering and radio and wireless communication. The merchant navy provides a range of career paths, with opportunities at sea and onshore. Following are the career options in merchant navy: Deck Officer, Engineering Officer, Radio Officers, Purser etc

The starting salary varies between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a month. Officers get a variety of perks like free food, accommodation, paid leave, two-way free passage and facilities for families. In other words, the salary can be saved totally while one is on ship. Other perquisites include bonus, holiday travel and other annual benefits. Foreign companies pay even higher with a starting salary of $ 1,500 to $ 2,500.

How: Candidate should have strong inner self and tough physical form, along with a sporting, adaptive and adjustable attitude. Willing to take on responsibility, love for adventure and challenges; have the urge to efforts for higher positions; be able to work as well as study for examinations in between. Candidates need to be intelligent, intuitive, willing to work as a team, flexible, patient; have a liking for solitude, willing to live apart from loves ones for long stretches of time. Those opting for a career should not be sea sick. Manual dexterity is a must; one should be willing to learn new ways and work with modern technology; and able to work in the deck department as well if need arises. Those who wish to enter the navigational and engineering fields of Merchant Navy need to complete their B.Sc. degree in mechanical or marine engineering, before they can gain admission to the field. People who have completed their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are eligible to join as Deck Cadets.

The entry level for a fresh Marine Engineer (ME) is at the rank of fifth engineer or junior engineer and a Nautical Science graduate is as a Deck Cadet. Promotions depend on further examinations conducted by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), the quality of experience and personal merit. On successfully completing these examinations the candidate receives the ‘Certificates of Competency’ needed for promotion to the respective classes. This examination is conducted by the Ministry of Surface Transport, in association with the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) Mumbai, for determining the promotion prospects for the officers.

Where: There is enough scope for employment in Indian as well as foreign ships. In addition, since the Merchant Navy offers excellent remuneration and good career prospects, many young people are being attracted to the profession. Placement may be found on various types of ships such as tankers, cargo and passenger ships. Companies that run merchant ships require trained people who can operate and maintain the ships. Trained people are required for the three main departments of the ship: the deck, the engine and the service department.

Institutions:

• Training Ship Chanakya (TS Chanakya), Mumbai.
• Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI), Calcutta.
• National Institute of Port Management, Chennai.
• International Institute of Maritime Studies, New Delhi
• S. Bhadra, Calcutta,
• S. Mekhala, Vishakapatnam
• Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Chennai.