Career in Merchant Navy

The opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure on the high seas, besides the possibility of high remunerations attracts many youngsters to make a career in the Merchant Navy. Merchant Navy is different from the navy in the sense that it offers commercial services, as opposed to the navy, which is largely involved in the defence of a nation.

Merchant Navy is the backbone of international trade, carrying cargo all over the world. The merchant ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one country to another. Without the merchant navy, much of the import-export business would come to a grinding halt!

A career in the merchant navy is considered a glamorous job, especially by the people who have been bitten by the travel bug. It offers an opportunity to visit new and exotic places all around the globe. Merchant Navy career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and a quite challenging.

Eligibility Criteria

• The eligibility for joining merchant navy is finishing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Candidates have to be unmarried Indian citizens (male or female).
• Normal vision is required but glasses up to plus or minus 2.5 may be allowed.
• Admission is through an entrance followed by a screening test and a main written examination.
• After clearing the test, there is an interview and a medical test.
• You also need to complete a ship-training course prior to the employment. The course is generally short-term where the candidates are taught basic security concerns of voyaging.

There are some private institutes, which offer training for merchant navy as well. These institutes prepare students for jobs such as deck cadets and marine engineering jobs.

How to Join Merchant Navy After 12th

After class 12, you are eligible to study the following merchant navy courses:

• B.Sc. Nautical Science
• B.E. Marine Engineering
• B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
• B.E. Petroleum Engineering
• B.E. Mechanical Engineering
• B.E. Harbour & Ocean Engineering
• B.E. Civil Engineering
• B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• B.Sc. Marine Catering
• Electro Technical Officer Course

How to Join Merchant Navy After 10th

Merchant navy courses that you can pursue after 10th include:

• Near Coastal Voyage (NCV)
• Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)
• Commercial Diving
• G.P. Rating

Entrance Exams for Merchant Navy

After completion of 12^th class, interested candidates can appear for the Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET) or the All India Merchant Navy Entrance Exam. This exam is generally conducted in the month of May. The other exams that can also serve as a gateway for Marine Engineering are JEE, MERI Entrance Exam, TIMSAT.

Eligibility Criteria:

• 10th for GP rating Course.
• For Deck cadet and Engine cadet: 10+2 with PCM 60%.

Application for the exam can be done online. Along with the application form, applicants have to submit a brief summary of 100 words that states why they wish to apply for Merchant Navy.

This exam is an MCQ pattern test spanning over subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, General Knowledge and Reasoning.

Merchant Navy – Job Prospects

There are enormous employment opportunities in this field. Candidates who have finished the basic course in merchant navy can get jobs very easily through various consultants and placement agencies. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships, as well as roll off/roll on ships. The possibility of finding employment in cargo ships is more as compared to the others.

Companies that run merchant ships require trained people who can operate and maintain the ships. Some of these companies are: Chevron and Mobil of USA, Wallem Ship Management of Hong Kong, Denholm of UK, K Line, Bibby Ship Management, d’Amico etc. India too has its shipping companies, such as the Shipping Corporation of India, Great Eastern Shipping, Essar and Chowgule Shipping. Trained people are required for the three main departments of the ship: the deck, the engine and the service department.

In India, job opportunities are also available in government and private shipping companies like Shipping Corporation of India, clearing houses, del credere agents etc.

Merchant navy job profiles

• Deck officer (navigation officer)
• Electro-technical officer (ETO)
• Engineer
• Ratings – ratings are skilled seafarers who help all the officers with daily tasks
• Catering & hospitality crew (pursers, stewards, chef, housekeeper etc.)

Merchant Navy – Pay Package

In Merchant Navy, the salary can range from anywhere between Rs.12000 to Rs.8 lakhs per month though the pay structure differ from company to company, city to city, the export-import needs, seniority etc. All crew members and officers are given free meals on board and senior officers can take along their wives for the voyage.

A Junior Engineer on a ship can earn around Rs. 30,000 per month with free boarding and lodging while signed on board the vessel. The next level is of Second Engineer and finally, Chief Engineer on a ship. As you keep getting promoted, your salary increases substantially. A Chief Engineer at sea earns Rs. 1.5 lakhs per monthor more net of taxes. It takes about 6-7 years for a Junior Engineer Officer to get promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, depending on individual capabilities and job opportunities available.

A Third Officer’s salary is around Rs. 50,000 per month plus free boarding and lodging while on board.Next levels in increasing order of seniority are Second Officer, a Chief Officer and Captain of a ship. A Captain’s pay package is Rs. 2 lakhs per month or more net of taxes. It takes about 8 years for a Third Officer to get promoted to the rank of Captain, depending on individual capabilities and the job opportunities available.

Besides this, imported liquor, cigarettes, canned foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. They are also entitled to four month leave every year. The interesting fact is that there is no income tax return imposed on the earnings of a merchant navy professional.

Life in merchant navy can be adventurous for all those with wanderlust. The long periods of solitude notwithstanding, the opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so, just cannot be argued with.

Merchant Navy Institutes

Indian institutes approved by the Directorate General of Shipping is an attached office of the Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India and offering courses in merchant navy are:

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