Career in Merchant Navy

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
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.)
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

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What Is Merchant Navy

The opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure on the high seas, besides the possibility of high remunerati...