Merchant Navy
Mechant Navy Course Details
Institutions & Courses

Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial fleet, which deals with transporting cargo and occasionally, passengers, by sea. Its fleet is therefore composed of passenger vessels, cargo liners, tankers, carriers, as well as other special types of vehicles. A career in this field is full of adventure and long voyages to exotic places. Above all this, the excellent pay and promising promotional opportunities make the career lucrative and exciting in spite of all the hard work life and long absence from family and home.

The main positions open in the merchant navy are for navigating officers, radio officers and marine engineers. They are usually employed by shipping companies on a contractual basis, which is generally of six to nine months' duration. Earlier a career in this field was considered purely for men. Women were not generally known to take up jobs in merchant navy but the past few years have seen a positive change with many women taking up jobs as ship doctors and radio officers.

In Merchant Navy, major tasks performed are in three basic areas of a ship. The Deck, the Engine and the Service Department. There are thus, many career options that are available for any youngster who has dreams to join the merchant navy. The deck officers include the captain, chief officer, second officer, third officer and other junior officers. The engine department consists of the chief engineer, radio officer, electrical officer and junior engineers. The service department manages the kitchen, laundry, medical and other services. Jobs are available with shipping companies in India and other countries.

Prominent institutes conducting courses in this field are TS Chanakya, Mumbai and Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI), in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Eligibility:
The minimum eligibility for courses in Nautical science and Marine engineering is 10+2 or an equivalent examination with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Click here for more information

Job Prospects and Career Options: Merchant Navy is the backbone of international trade, carrying cargo across the globe. Without the merchant navy, much of the import-export business would grind to a halt. Click here for more Information

Promotion in merchant Navy: Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India, takes care of the training needs and conducts competency exam through the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS). Click here for more information

Merchant Navy Course

Merchant Navy
Almost all of us have, at some point of time, shared fascination for the stories of hair-raising adventures and thrilling odysseys of sea-farers and merchants who would go on voyage from shore to shore and come laden with riches. The modern system of transport and communication has now revolutionized the practice and meaning of business. Merchant Navy, which is the con-combatant commercial fleet that transports cargo from one destination to another around the globe by sea, offers a very lucrative career for persons who are sea-farers by passion. Globalisation and inter-dependence of global trade and commerce provide a rewarding and one of the most prospering career opportunities for young budding candidates. Merchant Navy also provides opportunity to be with one of the greatest creations of nature-seas/oceans for days/months on end.

Of all the career options available to young persons, Merchant Navy is one which not only ensures a good life with lucrative pay packet but also offers a challenging opportunity to be with one of the greatest creations of nature seas / oceans for days/ months on end, Unlike the regular Navy, which is responsible for defending the territorial waters of a country, Merchant Navy is the noncombatant commercial fleet which transports cargo from one destination to another around the globe by sea. At times, it transports people as well. Since air transportation of goods is quite prohibitive and limited in scope, it's the ships which carry 90 percent of would trade. With seaborne trade forecast to almost double over the next 15 years, one can very well imagine the number of people, this sector can employ right now and in future. Despite the fact that Indian shipping fleet among the developing countries and ranks among the top countries in the would in shipping tonnage, there is still a big scope for expansion since our ships carry only 43 percent of the country's seaborne trade.

The areas of activity in Merchant Navy are broadly grouped in three categories:
Navigation;
Engineering; and
Radio & Wireless Communication.

Navigation:
Officers in this category concern themselves with navigation of the ship, the loading and off-loading of cargo and safety of the passengers (if any) and the crew. The Captain of the ship is the chief navigator. He decides the course the ship would take and guides the ship to safety during inclement weather and other emergencies. The Captain takes complete charge of the men and materials boarding the ship. All other officers help him in carrying out his duties.

Engineering:
The marine engineers are responsible for efficient engineers are responsible for efficient and smooth operation of the ship. They take care of all engineering equipments installed on the ship including all electrical and refrigeration machinery.

Ratio & Wireless Communication:
This department is concerned with the shore and maintaining the equipments as well.

Further, to look after the maintenance of living and catering services for officers and crew members on board a ship, there is service department. In addition, there are divers who examine the underwater ship; nautical surveyors for preparation of topographical charts of particular regions of sea. The light keepers help in operating the signaling equipment of the ship in the right direction.

Eligibility for Merchant Navy
The eligibility conditions and options to join the Merchant Navy are as follows:

(1) To join the navigation or marine engineering branch of Merchant Navy, one must have a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Marine Engineering or a degree of B.Sc. in Nautical Science from any recognized university of institute.

(2) One can also join as a deck cadet on board a ship after completing 10 + 2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and train on the job for three years. After the on-job training one has to appear for the competency examination, as required by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, to be eligible to become a Navigation Officer.

Courses in Merchant Navy
The courses related to Merchant Navy should be approved by Director-General of Shipping, Government of India. The various pre-sea courses for joining Merchant Navy either as a Deck/Engineer Officer are:

A four-year degree course leading to BE (Marine) after 10+2.
The 2½ years courses leading to Alternate Training Scheme for Marine Engineers (ATS) after 10+2.
Degree courses leading to B.Sc. (Nautical Science) after 10+2.
The Graduate Mechanical Engineer course after BE/B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering.

Physical Requirements for Merchant Navy
In addition, all the candidates who apply for the degree course should be physically and mentally fit. The Navigators are required to have a perfect eyesight, though marine engineers can wear spectacles for eyesight up to plus/minus 2.5. Colour blind people need not apply.

There are two premier institutions which impart training for Merchant Navy:
(a) T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai which offers a three-year degree course leading to B.Sc. in Nautical Sciences.
(b) The Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata which offers a four-year degree course leading to B.Tech. in Marine Engineering.

The navigating officers are trained in seamanship, navigation and ship maintenance and handling of navigational instruments. Exercise for physical fitness is a compulsory and part of daily affairs. Students are taught advanced marine engineering and technology during the four-year engineering programme at MERI. Also, various workshops are held to train students in overhaul, repair and maintenance of the ship's main and auxiliary machinery and shipboard systems.

One has to accomplish at least two years of service at sea after completion of the three-year B.Sc. degree in Nautical Science to get a certificate of competency of Second Mate. This certificate is issued by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and is a must if one wants to get a job on board a merchant ship. The certificate of T.S. Chanakya is equivalent to one year of sea service.

In case one wants to join as deck cadet directly with shipping company, one has to complete a minimum of three years' service at sea to be eligible to take the Second Mate Examination.

Prospects - Merchant Navy as Career
There is a tremendous demand for trained navigating and marine officers by both the public sector as well as the private sector companies. Comparatively in this profession the salary structure is very high. In the domestic companies the starting salaries may vary from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month. In foreign ships it could be as high as Rs. 1,00,000. Unlike other professions, shipping companies employ professionals n a contractual basis, which is for six to nine months.

Since life on board a ship is generally monotonous for most of the people, there are arrangements for all kinds of conveniences as well as entertainment in order to minimize boredom. Spacious lounges, televisions, indoor sports facilities and a range of other recreational facilities are now-a-days part and parcel of most of the ships. For the senior officers, the ships provide comfortable family accommodation.
Essentially, Merchant Navy is a career for men as there are a very few jobs for women. From time to time there have been suggestions to employ women as radio officers and doctors on the ship. So, if you like going on for long tours and at the same time earn good money, Merchant Navy is definitely a career for you

Merchant Navy Course Institutions in India

Indian Institute of Maritime Studies
A-2/92, Vatayan, Vishal Khand, Gomati Nagar, Lucknow-226010 (UP) Tel: 394662 /398088 Fax: 394115
E-mail: noorashrat@hotmail.com

Southern Academy of Maritime Studies
92 East Mada Church Streer, Royapuram, Chennai-600013 (TN) Tel: 5234275/5234291 Fax: 524283
E-mail: samsindia@usa.net

Pacific Ship Management
132-C, Mittal Court, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021 (Maharashtra) Tel: 2835034/ 2835163 Fax: 2853379
E-mail: khurana@bom3.vsnl.net.in

FOSMA Maritime Institute
F-322-A, Adarsh House, Lado Sarai, New Delhi Tel: 6525911 / 8469 / 7964 Fax: 6527975

Indial Institute of Port Management
40, Circular Garden Reach, Kolkata (West Bengal) Tel: 4393133 / 43942123 / 4394124 Fax: 4397179
E-mail: iipm@cal.vsnl.net.in

St. Xaviers Technical Institute
Mahim Causeway, Mhim, Mumbai-400016 (Maharashtra) Tel: 4451961 / 4454559 / 4455937 Fax: 4454482
E-mail: Root@xtech.ernet.in

The Institute of Marine Engineers
1012, Maker Chambers C, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021 (Maharashtra) Tel: 2840105 Fax: 2834035

Applied Research International
B-1, Hauz Khas, Ground Floor, East Wing, New Delhi -110016. Tel: 6859627 / 6969825 Fax: 6858331
E-mail: Ariindia@dcl2.vsnl.net.in

NUSI Maritime Acadamy
NUSI WADO Academy Salcete, Goa-403715. Tel: 760859 / 760861 Fax: 762247

Royal Telegraph Training Institute
34, Sunkumar Agraharam Street, Chntadripet, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) Tel: 8535514 / 8586768 Fax: 8526997
Email: Royalgmd@md3.vsnl.net.in

M/s Tolani Maritime Institute
Sharada Centre, 1st Floor, Erandawane, Pune-411004 (Maharashtra) Tel: 362641 / 366226 Fax: 361466

Srivenkateshwar College of Engineering
Post Bag No. 3, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur-602105 Tel: 32321 / 32352 Fax: 32462
E-mail: mdsaab83@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in

Univan Training Institute
QS-55, 4th Floor, South Block, GCDA Complex, Marine Drive, Cochin-682031 (Kerala) Tel: 369652 / 380090 Fax: 370503

Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training
2nd & 3rd Floor, 141, Purasawalkam High Road, Kellys, Chennai-600010. (Tamil Nadu) Tel: 5327009, Fax: 5327049
E-mail: himt@vsnl.com

T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai
(Attached to Lal Bahadur Shastri Collage, Mumbai), Karave, New Mumbai-400706 (Maharashtra) Tel: 022-27703876 / 27701935 Fax: 022: 022-27700398

Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI)
P-19, Taratolla Road, Kolkata-700088 (West Bengal) Tel: 033-24014673 / 4674 / 4675 Fax: 033-2414431 / 4333.
Website: www.merical.ac.inwww.merical.ac.in

Maritime Institute
13, Knowledge Park-I, Surajpur-Kasna Road, Greater Noidu - 201306 Tel: 0120 - 2326311-12. Fax: 0120 - 232656
E-mail: imiindia@vanl.net.
Website: www.imiindia.com

National Institute of Port Management
East Coast Road, Uthandi Chennai-600119 (Tamil Nadu)
E-mail: portnipm@md2.vsnl.net.in

The Tolani Maritime Institute
Talegaon-Chakan Road,Induri, Talegaon Pune-410507 (Maharashtra) Tel: 02114-241960 Fax: 02114-241517
E-mail: info@tmi.tolani.edu
Website: www.tolani.edu