Why Fake Job Agents and Scams Thrive in the Maritime Industry?

Last week we received a mail from a recently graduated marine engineer who became the latest victim of fraudulent job agents. The agent not only disappeared with a hefty sum of money but also wasted his one full year.

Unfortunately, the damage has already been done!

The engineer has almost given up on his dreams and is planning to seek an alternate career path. This was surely not what he expected at the end of his four years of hand work.

The worst feeling we got after reading his mail was that of “helplessness”.

Honestly, we did not know what to reply.  We have received several such mails in the past, mostly from fresh graduates, who have already suffered or were fortunate enough to know about a fraud agent or agency before investing their money.

Every time we reply to such mails, we feel extremely disappointed. It’s a sad scenario out there, especially for young mariners. What is more sad to see is businesses thriving on their “misery”! There are several shipping agents and companies making good money out of this situation.

Later, while talking to the young engineer, we were shocked to find that he has received the reference of the agent from an online maritime website. On digging deeper, we found that there were dozens of such advertisements from fake job agents and profiles on the same website. It didn’t require much time to figure out that the website was over-flooding with such “scammy” advertisements and activities.

Although we were aware of such activities taking place in the maritime industry, we didn’t expect it from a website which was not only allowing such ads but also promoting them.

Several maritime jobs’ websites have cropped up online, especially in the last couple of years. Considering the financial woes of the maritime industry, it is difficult to comprehend from where do they get all the advertisements from.

We did a bit of research and found that many maritime jobs websites were doing the following:

• Providing online platforms to job agents without checking their credibility
• Selling personal details and resumes of candidates
• Not providing descriptions and addresses of the companies advertised
• Marketing scam job postings

Today, with a bit of knowledge it is easy for anyone to build a website and market fake jobs. Those doing this already know where to find the job-seekers online. If you are new to the online job search market it might be difficult for you to identify these fake advertisements at the first glance.

With the increasing menace of fake job agents and other malpractices, it was imperative for us to draw people’s awareness towards the issue. Social networking websites such as Facebook are brimming with such job scams. Fake profiles, fake contact numbers and fake addresses are some of the famous means for such fraudulent activities.

We also found that people involved in such malpractices also did the following things:

• Imposing themselves as agents by providing information about vacancies in a particular shipping company. ( This is usually done through some of their “inside” contacts)
• Faking themselves as company representatives and posting jobs on their behalf
• Charging huge amount in return of a job placements without providing proper information about the offer
• Providing job offers of merchant ships in the first place but instead they turn out to be small ferries or tugs when the candidate reaches there

There have also been cases in the past wherein agents have sent candidates to foreign countries for joining ships but kept their CDC and other important seafaring documents with themselves. They then made excuses that the documents were misplaced or lost. When the joining date of the candidate had passed, he was brought back to his home country saying that the ship has already sailed. Moreover, some agents have even failed to give back the documents to the candidates whereas others have given them back, but kept the fees received from the candidate stating that it was required to retrieve the lost documents.

There are many similar cases involving large sums of cases, broken dreams, and spoiled careers. Unfortunately, the number of such cases are rising with the increase in joblessness in the industry.

Are the Ship Management Companies Responsible?

Most ship management companies have a very transparent and professional hiring procedures for new candidates. However, there are a few who engage in malpractices, knowingly or unknowingly. Some of the common practices followed by these companies that have give rise to fake job agents are:

– It’s a common practice followed by many ship management companies to provide a joining date to a candidate prior to a month or two. As the date approaches and the candidate mentally prepares himself for the ship, the company says the joining has been delayed. In some cases, the delay seems like eternity to the candidates who are ready with their preparations and are just waiting for the company’s call. But then, the joining date would again get delayed by four to six months, and sometimes even a year. Needless to say, the candidate is extremely frustrated by now and has lost the trust in the company. He thus starts seeking other modes of placements such as job agents.

Ship management companies also sometimes give authorization to fleet managers/personnel for posting advertisements online or on maritime job websites. Some fleet personnel take this as an opportunity and post these requirements under fake names, providing their contact number or sell the information to an agent seeking a hefty commission in return. As the only aim for some companies is to bring in fresh candidates, irrespective of the ways in which they have been recruited, the hiring process becomes a lucrative business for a few involved in the process.

It is seen that most of the companies do not make extra efforts to check the background of the agents who are bringing in the candidates. Thus, many of them ask service charges from the candidates or get involved in some other malpractices.

Finding the Root Cause of the Problem

The job scam industry thrives and runs on a situation which is a product of several aspects. Though the prime reason can be stated as financial crises faced by the industry, there are many other reasons which can be stated as below:

• Fake promises and improper guidance to the maritime students at the start of their career
• Imbalance in demand and supply of mariners caused by increase in number of maritime academies and passing graduates and reducing number of jobs
• Shipping companies reducing their fleet and number of crew members per ship
• Lack of quality education and training. Maritime academies are churning out hundreds of marine engineers and deck officers, focusing on quantity instead of quality

While there is lack of jobs for young graduates in the industry, shipping companies are leaving no stones unturned to find qualified and experienced maritime professionals for higher ranks on ships. There is a dearth of  management level mariners as many are leaving the field for better opportunities on shore. Both these types of conditions, though ironically opposite, are worsening day-by-day as there have been no concrete steps taken by the governing authorities to resolve these issues.

Until some major steps are taken by the government to rectify these proples, fake companies and agents will continue to exploit the professionals and tarnish the image of the maritime industry.

Have you been a victim of fraud maritime jobs agents or websites? Has any of your friend suffered because of such scams? Let us know in the comments below.

A Day In the Life Of A Chief Officer On board Ship

A very common and frequent experience of Capt. Swapnil onboard was the early morning scent of filter coffee which often used to stir up his nostrils . In the wee hours of the morning, precisely about 4 am it was time when his Chief mate onboard would take over his watch on the navigational bridge and start his day with a cup of filter coffee. About 15 minutes before this, he could hear the distant ringing of ship’s intercom phone in the alleyway and he knew subconsciously that it was the time Second mate used to wake up the first mate to relieve him from the Bridge watch .

Chief Mate or chief officer – is a well known and familiar rank in the Maritime industry. Be it car carriers, containers, LPG/LNG carriers, oil tankers, or dredgers they occupy a very crucial role being the direct incharge of and the responsible person for conducting cargo operations, deck maintenance and various shipboard jobs safely. His watch onboard witnesses both dusk as well as dawn.

In the dark hours of night at about 4 am while he is fast asleep dreaming about family, kids, wife, girlfriends, boyfriends ,ex girlfriends, ex wife, even stock markets, shares and real estate, a desperate call from second mate tries to bring him back to his senses so that he can commence to take over his Navigational watch. The hand over also includes discussion over any pending issues related to accommodation, ship’s hospital or any other responsibilities assigned to second officer with respect to maintenance or deck work. As the second mate leaves the bridge the Chief mate, his lookout and trainee are surrounded with serenity of quiet hours onboard where almost everyone else amongst the ship staff is fast asleep.

During these hours of peace, just before the dawn, when nearly the whole ship staff starts to wake up slowly and begin their chores there’s one mind which starts planning and analysis of tasks for the day and the forthcoming week or month. His mind races through the darkness, recollecting previous day’s work and formulating a virtual job sheet for the current and preceding days . This job sheet is often enhanced by the Master, who usually visits navigation bridge after sunrise to discuss matters related to the voyage and port calls.

Credits: danr13/depositphotos.com

As the sun rises few more degrees above the horizon the chief mate’s watch ends and he hands over his watch to the third officer. This handing over too includes discussion of jobs related to life saving and fire fighting appliances, muster lists, drills and other safety training carried out onboard. (Sometimes being experienced in all walks he does console his juniors over a break up or personal issues as well !!)

He is then greeted by the deck crew members with whom he conducts risk assessments for jobs planned, tool box meeting, discusses work safety permits, entry permits and thus the chief officer and his team gears up for the maintenance work or any other task according to the schedule and location of the vessel . These discussions or meetings are organised with other department teams or at least jobs planned are discussed within various departments onboard to facilitate inter-department coordination. This provide a good opportunity for him to interact with fellow mariners onboard and exchange information and inputs related to jobs as well as any other safety or personal issues.

Once the meetings are over its time for him to finish his daily routines and enjoy the delicacies prepared by the galley department. He then sets out to the deck where he supervises, assists or advises the deck crew in the jobs assigned. Sometimes he even cracks or shares a few funny lines with his team during work to keep the crew members’ morale high and reduce the omnipresent job based boredom . This is the time where he can observe safe working procedures or discover lack of any requisite safety precautions.

A Chief officer can be easily identified as often seen shuttling to and fro between deck and accommodation areas. As during the course of his supervision he’s often required to attend to or assist in replying to several important messages and queries from master, owners, technical manager, charterers, commercial operators or terminals. The day’s work for a chief officer ends by the lunch time and he takes a break around noon. Later in the afternoon he starts his second watch for the day at 4 pm. Soon the deck crew too complete their routine by 5 pm and the head or the bosun reports the day’s work on deck maintenance to the chief officer. Later in the evening during the watch chief officer also monitor’s the training of cadet or junior officer. As the sun sets below horizon and darkness prevails the enterprising day of chief officer comes to an end as well.

Representation Image – Photograph by Jose Jacob

From refreshing sunrises to lazed and comfortable sunsets he witnesses various shades of the sky and relishes the sight of them while navigating.

The day’s work ends here but the role of chief officer is diverse and includes several aspects . In port, being the officer incharge of cargo operations, he witnesses the beginning, completion and critical stages of cargo operations by himself. During dry docking he’s monitoring various jobs by the ship’s staff and the yard staff as well. His paperwork includes several reports related to maintenance of deck machinery, mooring equipment, lifting gear, cargo tanks , ballast tanks, cargo equipment, training records of deck trainees. In port he’s also the security officer who monitors security measures for various security levels as per the Ship Security plan.

A day in a Chief officers life whether at sea or in port is challenging and is occupied with numerous tasks and responsibilities, which he achieves in a time bound manner with the help of his team onboard . Different ships like dredgers or dynamic positioning vessels have a different work rest hour plan and schedule of watch . Those kind of ships focus more on watch-keeping and cargo operations are negligible, whereas deck operations vary and increase in frequency on such vessels. Some trading patterns of the vessel involves frequent cargo operations where an additional officer performs his watch and his working hours are usually from 6 am to 5 pm or more popularly known as Day work.

Amidst a busy routine chief officers do sneak few minutes or an hour for tete a tete with their spouses and families ashore, whenever an opportunity arises.

Over to you..

What does your ideal “Day At Sea” routine on board ship? Write it to us at – 

merchantnavyinfo9@gmail.com

Reasons Why Deck Cadet and Junior Engineer are not getting job

The recent financial crises have affected everyone in the maritime industry. Jobs are scarce, though every day you might hear in the news that some top-notch company took in five new ships or increased its pool of employees. Strange it might seem to be, the fact remains that the gray clouds of unemployment are still not completely off the marine market place. The top rank professionals will swim smoothly, as they have always; however, those at the bottom has and will have to bear the brunt.Talk to a freshly graduated junior engineer or deck cadet and I bet the only thing you would hear about is getting a decent break (or even on any damn shitty ship would also do). They want jobs badly, I mean really bad! And why would they not? There are many who have taken loans for their maritime training and even have mortgages to clear off. In fact, that is what every one of us would do once we pass out from the college. Look for jobs! Right?Unfortunately, the “situation of crises” has become a breeding ground for job agents and fraud shipping companies to do profitable business. They are charging $2000-$3000 dollars in return for a break; not to mention, one cannot expect it to be in some hot-shot company.Sadly, these fresh graduates have started to succumb to the situation, and have even started considering shelling out the “asked price”. Result? Some have already received the much-desired break, some are looking for sources to finance them, and some have fallen prey to fraud agents and shipping companies, who have taken the money and disappeared into thin air.
1. Supply & Demand Imbalance:-It might sound cliché, but the fact remains that the lack of equilibrium between the supply and demand of fresh professionals in the marine industry is the main reason behind the dearth of jobs, especially for new graduates. Maritime academies are churning out marine engineers and deck cadets, doing their jobs pretty well and making huge profits, irrespective of the market condition.However, they can’t be blamed because one cannot shut the Institute for one year and then re-open it again whenever the need arises. Today, the need for deck cadets is less, tomorrow it can be more. So who is to blame? Probably the authority that gives the permission to open new institutes every month is at fault. However, the bottom line is until a balance is created between the demand and supply of seafarers, the scarcity of jobs will persist.With the industrial boom in China starting from 2004, there was a huge increase in the number of ships and the freight rates were off the charts during that time! Shipping being a cyclical industry, the boom led to a bust and thereafter, ships without a viable business. Now, the demand for a senior officer is still there but as far as junior officers are concerned (including cadets), companies ask for experience without even considering that the experience will only come from employment! Expecting experience before experience is just ridiculous!
2. Inability of the Governmental Authority to take Concrete Steps:Governmental authorities should take concrete steps to solve the issue of unemployment for the fresh graduates. Or else, merchant navy would slowly lose its position as a prospective career option among students (the fact is it has already lost its luster to a certain extent).It is high time the government takes a stand to help the freshly graduated cadets and engineers for getting placed in decent companies. Until this is done, both agents and shipping companies will not miss a single opportunity to earn profits from maritime professionals. The government needs to intervene and help these professionals with a decent break.Even with regard to the examinations, the Governments need to overhaul the system and make it more transparent with a practical approach towards testing the value a seafarer may bring to the industry and not just their “mugging up” capabilities.Regulations regarding employment and the upkeep of standards of institutes and its students are a first to ensure that the cadets graduate with the right skillset and do not go on a ship without the adequate knowledge. Institutes of the yesteryears have produced stalwarts in the industry who, even with the dynamic changes in the industry, are still at the forefront of any available employment demand.
3. Lack of References = No Job Offer:Shocking but true, the trend of getting jobs using references is still a hot favorite method of getting a decent job. There have been several cases wherein average students have got jobs in top shipping companies because they have father or uncle working there as chief engineer or captain; whereas bright students are still jobless because either they don’t have a family member in the industry or lack hundred of dollars to pay as a bribe.Either way, an unjust and unfair condition is being created which is eventually making the present situation grimmer. Though people might shout slogans against corruption or even get themselves enrolled in a debate against the same, the fact is, when it comes to personal level, the definition of immorality changes, drastically.While the aspect of networking is necessary towards any job, it should be the only way into gaining a cadetship. While the value of networking is immense in today’s environment, merit and quality must always trump “daddy’s contacts”. It is one thing for it to be taught as a soft skill and another when it is the only way in.
4. Shipping Companies Showing No Respect for Fresh Graduates:Let’s face the fact that a certain shipping company hires a fresh graduate with the sole intention and hope to retain him or her as a third officer or a fourth engineer once the necessary certifications are achieved. The companies don’t entertain newly graduates as respect to the degree or training they have. Don’t believe me? Visit a shipping company or a ship and see how the cadets and junior engineers are treated and you would get to know what I mean. We agree that they are fresh and naive, but they are future officers and captains. Give them their due respect.The moral of the story is until the companies stop treating young professionals as “liabilities”, the loyalty will not have a place in the employer-employee relationship, leading to the reduction in retaining the power of the company. Give respect, and get respect in return.Companies must understand that throughout their time at the educational institutes, they have been taught to behave and be trainee officers and have dreams about being the skipper on board one day. Demoralising them by treating them like dirt only kills their enthusiasm and their attitude towards their job. Needless to say, taking pride in their company and their job only breeds more loyalty and quality which must never be compromised. Even onboard, expecting cadets to work relentlessly with the agenda of “learning” while they are paid a small sum in comparison is not a good practice. Learning is obviously the most important aspect of cadetship but it should be executed in a way that is respectable to the human dignity.

Main Reasons Why Seafarers Quit Sea Life

1. Unsettled Lifestyles
This is the most common and obvious reason as these days more seafarers want “settled” jobs on shore. At the start of the career, a seafarer would not mind having a “nomadic” kind of lifestyle, but after certain years, especially post marriage, he longs for a more stable lifestyle, especially with his family. This is definitely not a new reason behind seafarers quitting sea jobs, but it is still one of the prime reasons for professional dissatisfaction.
2. Hectic Life
One cannot deny the fact that life on board ships has become extremely hectic. With more stringent maritime regulations coming up each year, life as a seafarer has become increasingly hectic, laborious, and monotonous.Increase in paperwork, advanced training guidelines,new codes, and rigorous safety and environmental laws have made the lives of seafarers extremely hectic on board ships. Moreover, many seafarers have also stated poor management of manpower on board ships as a reason for increase in work load. Needless to say, the already hectic life on ships is becoming even more hectic every year.
3. Onboard politics
No matter how hard you try to stay away from professional or personal politics on board ships, it will get to you sooner or later. Politics and conflicts on ships not only make it difficult to work but also to socialize within the already small group of people on board. Moreover, there is a very thin line between professional and personal life on ships. This makes it even more difficult to avoid as well as deal with politics or conflicts arising as a result of differences in opinions. One needs great determination, patience, and skills to deal with difficult people onboard, especially after having professional/personal arguments.
4. Lack of Social Life
Almost everyone who joins ships is brought up in a social environment since birth. When such people are suddenly exposed to confined spaces of ships with almost negligible social life, negative effects such as frustration, loneliness, and homesickness start taking a toll on them. Initially the life on ship might not seem bad, but as time passes, a sense of emptiness starts creeping in. Lack of interaction with people and limitations on physical movement make life more miserable on board. It takes a lot of courage and mental steadiness to keep a calm and focused mind on ship. Many seafarers eventually quit because of this reason.
5. Away from the Family
Though most of the seafarers can digest the fact of staying away from friends for few months when sailing, parting away from the family for months together is what tear their hearts apart. Some might have just started their married life while others would have recently experienced parenthood, missing those precious moments with their loved ones for whom they care the most, is what hurts seafarers to the core. No seafarer wants to miss spending time with his wife or see his son or daughter grow old without him being around. It is then that seafarers realize the importance of “family life” and “loved ones”. The pain of staying away for months is also one of the main reasons seafarers quit sea jobs.
6. Personal/ Family Problems
One cannot stay focused at work when bothered by family or personal issues. Seafarers often face this problem when they leave their family problems at shore. However, not able to attend to the personal problem and its impeding negative effects on the family, induces a constant state of worry which reduces the ability to focus on one’s duties. It’s extremely difficult to work when you are physically on the ship but mentally back at home. Moreover, what hurts more to seafarers is the inability to attend to any emergency situation or incident in their family back home. Such situations lead to extreme frustration, anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress among seafarers. Many seafarers have quit sailing because of this reason.
7. Rise in Maritime Piracy
Though several steps have been taken lately to fight piracy at sea, incidents involving pirate attacks and high-jacking of ship’s crew occur almost every month. The threat of piracy attacks is ever increasing and seafarers are obviously scared in spite of availability of weapons to fight them. No one wants to risk their lives or put themselves in danger by sailing on ships which ply in piracy affected areas. The fear of pirates is also stated as one of the many reasons by seafarers for leaving ship jobs.
8. Health Issues
In Sailing on ships requires meeting medical and health requirement. As strict as the rules to be meet before joining the ship are, it’s an irony that life on board ship is not even close to healthy. Erratic sleeping schedule, excessive working stress, unfriendly environment, unavailability of fresh food, and inadequate medical facilities drastically affect seafarers’ health. Moreover several seafarers also have to quit sailing once they are diagnosed with conditions which might require immediate attention in times of medical emergency. Many also complain about the increasing difference between work and rest hours, in spite of laws demanding proper distribution of them.
9. Reducing shore leaves
One of the main reasons people join merchant navy is the lure to see the world. However, in the past few years there have been a sudden reduction in shore leaves that are being granted to the seafarers. With faster turnaround time of ships at ports and scheduled maintenance procedures, seafarers are not allowed to go out on ports. Also, many VLCCs and large capacity ships don’t even come to the port for discharging or loading, giving no chance to seafarers to refresh themselves away from the ship’s environment. Such consistent sailing with less or negligible opportunities for shore leaves have frustrated several seafarers who have eventually quit sailing.
10. Lack of Shore Jobs
This cause might sound a bit contradictory, but this is also one of the main reasons why seafarers quit the field early in their career. Though most maritime institutes and experts promise adequate on-shore opportunities for seafarers, those wanting to shift to shore find it difficult to get a worthy job. Most of the companies ask for good amount of experience at sea, in order to get a job in their on shore office. Moreover for a good managerial position on shore, either one has to do an MBA or take up some equivalent courses. Seafarers find it difficult to get back to studies after certain point of time, especially when they are bound by family responsibilities. Many seafarers are now able to foresee this and thus change their course very early in their career. However, compromising on the salary is one thing they have to accept sooner or later.
11. Reducing crew members
With the financial crisis looming over the industry, shipping companies are utilizing every technique possible to cut back expenses and overhead costs. In an attempt to do so, the number of crew members on ships is being reduced to compensate the necessary expenses. As a result, mariners are experiencing substantial increase in work load, without any increase in remuneration. This trend has been seen almost across all shipping companies around the world. The higher demand of work load with same or negligible increase in payment is also making several seafarers quit sea jobs.
12. Stringent Maritime Laws
Stringent maritime laws have made lives of maritime professionals difficult, especially for those at the management level. Many seafarers in the past have been imprisoned, heavily fined, and suspended as a result of such laws. Officers at the management level are the ones who often bear the brunt of these laws and are therefore constantly at stress while sailing. This has been one of the main reasons for the acute dearth of maritime professionals at the managerial level.

Things The World Should Learn From The Seafarers

The word Seafaring or Merchant Navy has a much broader spectrum beyond the imagination of land dwellers enjoying the fruits of it. Seafaring is rooted much deeper in our lives than one could possibly perceive.The world economies as a whole and the countries around the globe have undergone a sea-change since the advent of International Shipping Trade. The beautiful sculptures and buildings constructed across the globe, the energy of fuel driving and transporting masses, breath taking innovations, jaw-dropping wonders of technology, food, clothing, and automobiles that we witness and experience today are a result of the systematic and standardised shipping world.Behind these scenes are unknown stories of a sizeable workforce of men and women – the seafarers, who toil hard round-the-clock so that their ships carrying various cargoes and consignments are delivered safely and on-time in the remotest corner of the world. These ships sail across to the farthest corners of the globe and are thus the backbone of several economies relying on Shipping and Logistics.Without doubt, seafarers have enjoyed an important stature ever since the creation and development of mankind. Shipping is the lifeline on which the world economies have flourished and survived.As a Farmer sows, irrigates and reaps a harvest to ensure his family and rest of the world can sustain their lives, similarly, Seafarers are responsibly carrying energy resources, food products and finished goods to the hands of almost every inhabitant on this earth.                                                                              This unique and peacefully dwelling fraternity of the society which comprises of sea-going professionals, continues to exist since past centuries, working unobtrusively and uninterruptedly over years to sustain, operate and enhance the world.

Learn to Sacrifice : Seafarers go to the sea to earn their livelihood in a dignified manner and they do so to ensure their families back home have abundance of good health, education and comforts. Needless to mention they are duly supported and appreciated by their families and friends for the same. While rest of the masses are busy with the festivities celebrating Christmas and New Year, there are ships manned by seafarers navigating across oceans amidst darkness spread for miles to ensure that goods and fuel supplies reach in time to light up the houses of fellow cohabitants.Seafarers sacrifice several important occasions of their lives being at sea so that the rest of the world do not have to miss theirs.

Learn to be More Punctual:In commercial shipping every minute counts. International trade through ships does involves time frames and requires ships to strictly maintain their port schedules and estimated time of arrivals. Shipmaster’s along with navigating officers take upto this tedious task by all means available at their disposal despite adverse currents, cyclonic conditions and rough weather in their way. The day at sea for every seafarer is planned with regards to his work schedule and often unforeseen emergencies arise, but still seafarers are known to complete their targets within stipulated deadlines.

Foster Resilience : It was the night of Independence day when two trainees onboard a supply vessel in Indian waters were involved in rescuing occupants of a rig in an offshore exploration field. The rig had caught fire and before the assistance could arrive the staff jumped into the water to save their lives. The offshore supply vessel approached to rescue the rig crew in water despite heavy swell and wind. While approaching, one of the survivor was caught in the turbulence and got stuck in the propeller of the supply vessel which eventually lead to his death. The two trainees who witnessed this accident were left cold and numb for rest of their contract and decided to quit sea.The Master who was a sailor for quiet a long time then motivated them to hold on and not to give up on their career at sea. It worked and the trainees soon rose up to levels of navigating officers.Seafarers are known for their determination as they continue to trade through ships despite the roughest seas or piracy infested waters of Gulf of Aden and Somalia.Working against the forces of nature at sea is extremely difficult. Accidents and emergencies take place frequently. But a seafarer is trained to find courage in the toughest situation possible and move ahead. The sea is a great teacher and the seafarers knows it well. 

Be More Adaptable : Seafarers can be called as one of the most adaptive professionals around. Being of truly global nature, seafaring involves people from all walks of life and cultures travelling, living, and training together. Working in adverse weather conditions and remotest corners of the world where language and cultural difficulties is common, a seafarer successfully completes all necessary operations without delay. Almost every seafarer has an experience to work with at least four or five different nationalities since their training times until he/she acquires a rank amongst the crew or officers. Seafarers not only develop this remarkable ability to get along with each other within such a short span but work productively as well.

Become More Environment Friendly : Seafaring is a field with some of the most stringent regulations when it comes to environment protection. The implementation of garbage management policy /plan onboard and measures to prevent pollution through oil spill, imbibes in a seafarer the basic and inherent tendency or rather develops a much improved civic sense to store trash and not to litter in public places while at shore or at home during vacations.Seafarers ashore can be noticed proceeding cautiously towards a waste bin and dispose the garbage in it to keep their surroundings clean, something the rest of the world needs to learn at the earliest.

Stay Organised & Committed: Worldwide Trading and travel patterns involve a lot of documentation which again develops as a routine task wherein a seafarer is well aware of and is required to keep all his documents organised, updated and in order. This habit descends down into the family through the seafarer as well, and while being at shore he or she can be seen well organised with any other documentation even though not related to sea.

What is the difference between Defence Navy and Merchant Navy

1. The Basic Difference
Merchant Navy, as the name suggests, is the term for commercial marine services. Such commercial activities include both shipping of cargo and people across various destinations in the world. In other words, it can also be said that merchant marine activities are not indigenous or native to any one country but are spread across nations, worldwide.
Merchant marine as it is known synonymously; however has to adhere to certain rules and regulations framed by governing bodies to ensure stability in the activities carried out. To sum it all Merchant navy is a purely commercial form of sea career and is governed by both private and governmental shipping companies.
Defence Navy, on the other hand refers to nations’ maritime military wing.Naval Ships are those which are used at times of international crises to protect the water boundaries of a nation from getting infiltrated or attacked unduly. Every nation with a waterline has its own navy service with its own code of rules and stipulations. Thus, a career in defence navy would involve services for the respective country through duty on war ships.Both merchant navy and defence have deals with ships. While the first one is purely commercial, the second one involves careers of high respect and skills.
2.   Eligibility
 Both merchant navy and navy have their own set of eligibility criteria for entering the maritime services. Individuals interested in enrolling for a career in merchant marines need to have a basic high school certification with subjects like physics, chemistry and math. Alternatively, individuals interested in applying for higher hierarchical positions need to have a graduation certification in science.
 The most important requirement of joining a country’s naval services is that the individual applying needs to be a citizen of that country. This factor forms the most important difference between merchant navy and navy in terms of eligibility criteria. Most of the navies of the world have their own entrance and screen exams for choosing the right candidates. However, both merchant and defence navy have the same requirements as far as the fitness and medical condition of the person is concerned.
3.   Pay Scale
This is one of the most talked about topic among candidates planning a career at sea. In the merchant marines, the pay scales depend on the standards set by international institutions like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).The pay-scales are set as per the hierarchy of the jobs in merchant marines and each individual is entitled to receive the same.  Merchant marine is already famous for high salary packages and a glamorous life on ships.By contrast in the navy, the pay-scale depends on the position of an individual and his total work experience. The pay-scale is set as per a nation’s laws and differs from country to country.It is to note that though the salary of merchant navy officers is always a talk of the town, a career in defence navy is something that comes with highest level of respect and pride.
4.  Ranking structure
Both merchant marine and navy have their individual hierarchical system. Jobs in merchant navy can in the technical department or pertaining to the deck zone or in the servicing area. Individuals with the right aptitude and skill-set can join in any one of the three specialised criterions.  Moreover, sometimes the ranks of professionals also depend on the company and type of the ship. But the basic structure remains the same.Jobs in navy on the other hand, start at the lieutenant level – which is the lowest rung in terms of ranking. The rankings assigned to navy servicemen differ in each country, thus making them singular in their own right. Just like in Merchant navy, each rank in Defence Navy comes with great responsibility and honour.Jobs in navy and the merchant marine require a huge level of commitment and dedication on the part of individuals as both have extended periods of service. In the case of the former, the threat of infiltrators looms large while in case of the latter, the requirement of commercialisation makes shorter trips impossible. In spite of their differences, however, the most common similarity between the two maritime services is that they offer high levels of satisfaction to the individuals engaged in the professions.

Reasons Why a Career In Merchant Navy is Unlike Any Other

Lucrative Pay-Package:

There are very few lines of work around the world that pay the kind of salary to entry level officers as the merchant navy does. A very big incentive for anyone to take up a profession is the allure of pay-packages and salaries. Starting at about US$ 1,500 and extending up to about US$ 3,000 per month. Note that this is notwithstanding the training period for approximately a year wherein a stipend is paid out ranging between $500 to $800.The payment scales are set as per the existing IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and ILO (International Labour Organisation) laws. While the salaries have set pattern across the globe, it differs among companies and more importantly, it increases with experience.

Tax Benefits:

Paying taxes is a responsibility that everyone is aware of. However, people involved in the merchant marine are exempted from paying taxes, if they meet the requirements necessary for exemption purposes. A merchant marine professional has to spend a minimum of six months on-duty aboard a vessel, following which the professional will be exempt from paying tax for the specified financial year.However, this is not professional tax advice and laws differ among countries so it is best to check up on the tax laws. For example, in India, one paid for his services while out of the country for 183 days or more has to be exempted from income tax.

Destinations Galore:

People involved in the merchant marines get to experience exotic destinations across the whole world. And since jobs in merchant navy require an individual to spend extended periods of time at sea, there is no dearth of time when it comes to exploring these singular destinations.While the work onboard in ports takes up half the time, the other half is available to visit the new country as long as the vessel is alongside. Based on the charter, the vessel might be in a different country every now and then, leaving the seafaring with a long list of countries he/she covers!

Confluence of Cultures:

A professional involved in a merchant marine career gets to meet and mingle with people of different cultures and nationalities. This helps the individual to understand and function better as a team player and learn the nuances of different cultures and traditions at the same time. This automatically increases adaptability and brings about more awareness about what goes and what doesn’t.A merchant navy officer is easily malleable and can fit in with people around the world without much effort owing to their regular exchange with foreign nationals. Even if a ship employs a single nationality crew, working with the port officials from different countries also adds a great deal of awareness among seafarers about cultures and customs.

Enhances Professionalism

Working in the merchant navy enables individuals to function better as a unit. Merchant mariners are required to possess good communication skills and extreme resourcefulness, along with following and maintaining high discipline. These qualities are further honed when a person spends considerable amount of time functioning as a part of a novel team in the high seas.A person not only evolves professionally but also personally while working in merchant navy. This degree of professionalism comes with a great deal of responsibility towards the vessel and the crew; years of rigorous training in the field might make make certain tasks look mundane to a layman, however, to have achieved that level of expertise has come with it a lot of diligent work over the years.

Extensive Exposure

Merchant navy careers offer a lot of exposure to unexpected events, situations and emergencies. By facing such unmitigated events, professionals gain a widespread knowledge about dealing and facing such problems, in the event of them arising again. The exposure one gets in this field is unlike anywhere else and which helps a person to grow in every aspect.The aspect of professionalism also kicks in wherein the ability to be quick with decisions and problem solving is paramount. Lack of precision can be devastating onboard and with constant exposure to a high degree of work ethic over the years, a seafarer becomes conditioned to sudden jolts!

Inspiring Adventure

A career in merchant marines is like having adventures on a day-to-day basis. It’s an adventurous life out there. Other routine jobs, involve people having to spend nine hours in an office. This is not for people who like nine-to-five jobs. Merchant mariners get to explore and view the excellent oceanic vista for days on end which, acts as inspiration unlike any.

Being at the mercy of the ocean naturally demands a considerable level of commitment from one’s part. It is not all sunshine and peaches at sea and ‘adventure’ can also mean that one has to be sharp at all times, ready to face the perils of the sea as well as the ship and her crew.

Demanding/Less Qualifications

A career in merchant navy can be taken up immediately after clearing the high school examinations with subjects like physics and mathematics. For individuals who do not want to gain higher college education or cannot do so because of certain reasons, taking up a merchant marine career is the most feasible choice. Not only does it provide good pay but also helps in molding a better career.Having said that, there are careers in merchant navy that requires high qualifications as well. The kind of subjects taught while an individual is undergoing his training at an institute can be extensive. From astronomy to engineering to celestial navigation and maritime law, the study in the shipping field to become a qualified officer covers a wide array of knowledge. However, for those that aspire to be regular seamen, the merchant marine provides an opportunity like no other; in that, with minimal qualification a person can be assured a good pay and the prospect of extensive tries that a person gains through a merchant marine career. Since the oceans are highly unpredictable, a seaman has to be highly cautious, focused and alert to counter any eventuality, thereby reducing the repercussions substantially. These two qualities are imbibed in maritime professionals right from their college training.The professionals are expected to follow a strict disciplined lifestyle according to navy rules and are also required to wear navy uniforms throughout their careers. In case you are uniform fan, maritime career is an exciting option for you. The discipline goes a long way in real life and brings about some really positive changes in everyday life. It is this discipline onboard that enables a young officer to become an adept Master years later.

Extended Vacations

Since the nature of the job requires long working periods, the vacations offered to merchant marine professionals are equally compensating. This enables these professionals to enjoy the best of both worlds – land and water.A 2-4 months vacation is definitely long enough to unwind and follow all your passions, isn’t it? The vacation a seafarer gets is in its truest form- there is absolutely no stress of work while a seafarer is back home and he gets to enjoy the time with his family to the fullest.People with unbridled enthusiasm and zest for life can very well opt for a merchant marine career. It would be satiating without the person ever experiencing any regrets whatsoever in his profession of choice.

Thinks That Makes a Seafarer Happy Onboard

1. The Internet: On shore, internet has become pretty much a necessity along with food and drinking water! Life without the Internet is uninhabitable for some right? Well, it is a sort of a luxury on board! Yet to be implemented on board every vessel (a promulgated suggestion under the MLC), it is something that makes and keeps everyone happy. Seeing the face or hearing the voice (or even a text message) of a loved one after a tumultuous day at work via Skype, while in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, provides solace like no othe          Some ships only have the availability of an emailing system (AMOS Connect), which, although not as effective as the Internet as a whole, aids in the process of keeping a sailor happy! Seeing a new email pop up during the voyage gives us a feeling of unparalleled joy and satisfaction, offering a temporary relief to the perennial loneliness. It’s a small way of remembering that there are people back home who miss your presence and think of you. Trust me, in an extremely professional environment such as the ship, a touch of personal gesture, although virtual, works wonders.
2. The Satellite Telephone: If you recognize the INMARSAT satellite telephone code on your mobile, drop whatever you’re doing and take that call! It is not a device we use to make routine calls to inform everyone that we’re all right or to use it for frivolous conversation; instead, a sailor only makes a call when he’s either really happy about something, or needs the support of a loved one. Either way, it is one of the biggest outlets for a seafarer outside the company of his shipmates. The calls are expensive and should never be taken as a regular ping to chitchat!Being a navigating officer working on the bridge, I personally see everyone that comes by to make a call. Most leave the bridge with an incredible smile on their face! Almost all of the time, after a phone call, the person normally waits around to talk to us officers on the bridge, clearly showing a marked increase in joy. And when it is time for the festivals, it is a sight filled with emotion and happiness and longing. So yes, the telephone still remains the number one derivative of happiness onboard.
3. The Recreational Room: This is the college/boarding room ‘common room’ we all grew up with! Equivalent to the airport lounges after a hard tenure of travel, this little bit of real estate is where we congregate for a prolonged session of debate, films, and general tomfoolery! Be it a tea break during work hours, or the usual accepted time of sitting together post dinner; a well laid out smoking/recreation room keeps the sailors in binding on an everyday basis. This is where the films, music and other visual entertainment is stacked, bringing together seafarers of different ranks to sit together through a few hours. This is also where the cards are played, sports tournaments are planned and ideas are hatched, and, if the company policy allows, alcohol is consumed. Therefore, a smoking room that is well stacked with films, books, music, preferably a good gaming device and other such similar paraphernalia, is bound to keep every seafarer happy.
4. Parties: The ubiquitous parties on board are the sorts of thing every seafarer loves. Be it Christmas, New Year, someone’s birthday or maybe just a good day; a good party on board makes each and everyone happy. Be it the meat that is barbecued to perfection out in the open while the ship cuts through the Atlantic/Pacific breeze or the loud blast coming out of the speakers to which every sailor dances his heart out- the party is the time when camaraderie and mutual affection reaches an all new high! Apart from the officer on watch (who HAS to keep away from the pleasantries due to obvious responsibility, along with the Captain and the Chief Engineer), it is a given that almost everyone lets their hair down in those few hours. And do not judge us; it is not your average party out at night on shore, dressed sharp and hair gelled to the tip, reeking cologne all over! No, this is another grade; one of outlet and general revelry.
5. Sleep: No seafarer can ever deny that the most prized asset in the arsenal is a sound, long sleep! Overworked most of the times and in need of some rest, a seafarer looks forward to the time when he can go back to his cabin after a hard day/night at work for some rest and recuperation. Those who work onboard will know most of the times, going to the cabin inadvertently means going off to sleep (unless there are more pressing matters at hand). Frankly speaking, there is barely any energy and/or desire left to put on a film or to read a book for the after hours. Most of the times, a trip to the smoking room after the watch/deck work is just a precursor to doze off gradually into a few hours of bliss.

8. Timely Sign-off and Shorter contracts: Ask any veteran in the field of the merchant navy, and he will tell you that the practice of timely sign off is a sign of a good company to work for. An employer, who puts the interest of a seafarer, especially when it involves his long due visit home, surely signifies great work ethos. The topic of shorter contracts also falls under the same purview, for short contracts ward off negative thoughts on behalf of the seafarer such as ‘counting days to go home’, ‘when will the vessel be alongside’ etc. Timely Sign-off is a matter of concern of every seafarer. Just like other humans, seafarers also have made plans and given commitments to their loved ones. Respecting the promises they have kept is all a seafarer asks for the shipping companies and owners.
9. A Day Off: A luxury that is not applicable to maritime professionals, a day off on board is something that brings with it immense joy and anticipation. A rare occurrence onboard, an off day gives most seafarers a much-required day away from work and responsibilities. Waking up late and lazing around in the cabin all day are small pleasures that come by once in a while and end up as a major refreshment of the body and mind for the seafarer.
10. Good Food: We’ve all read the quote “The way to man’s heart is through his stomach”. Well, it definitely holds strong on board. Seeing a good meal laid out on the table gives every man immense joy. And what sailor wouldn’t be happy with a steaming plate of freshly prepared food right before/after his watch!Though the above mentioned points sound extremely simple in today’s world, it comes with great surprise that many merchant vessels still lack the bare necessitates and rights of the seafarers. We receive several complains from seafarers regarding lack of quality food on board, unhygienic and poor accommodation facilities, no or negligible recreational activities, lack of sleep due to extra working hours and overtime, untimely remuneration and sign-offs etc. In such conditions, proper availability of even such simple things seem heavenly to seafarers.All in all, merchant navy doesn’t spare us of the troubles of workplace stresses. Finding joy in the small and unique pleasures is what keeps each one of us strong, miles away from home.

Famous Myths About Merchant Navy

1. Seafarers Earn Loads of Money: Probably the most common aspect of a conversation with a misinformed individual, everybody seems to think that we’re cash cows that get paid a huge amount of money. Agreed, the pay is good. However, it is similar to the pay that individuals get after getting themselves a decent MBA/Masters and landing a respectable job (Of course, after certain years down the line in their careers). It is correct that the initial pay is far better than what one would get at shore, but the gap closes up as time goes by. Moreover, people at shore ought not forget the pains a seafarer has to go through to bring in that sort of money- time away from family, living at the mercy of nature, tough labour onboard etc. In our favor though, we don’t have to pay taxes, and rightfully so (Rules on taxes may vary across different countries) !
2. Seafarers Consume Alcohol All The Time: The world over seems to think that sailors have an infinite capacity for alcohol. Couple that with their idea that alcohol onboard is subsidized to the point that it’s free! This notion gives people the credibility to think that sailors drink alcohol like its going out of fashion. What seems to be ignored is that there are random alcohol tests onboard, and that now there is a ‘Company Policy’ against drinking and all of that. Also forgotten is the fact that drinking deters sharp judgment; and that mistakes at sea can threaten the lives of all onboard. In our favor, alcohol is indeed very cheap onboard (but that doesn’t give us the liberty to drink it freely though). Moreover, considering increasing stringent regulations, most of the ships are now becoming no alcohol zones.
3. Seafarers Have Wife/Girl Friend At Every Port: The sole reason why sailors are interpreted to be inherently unfaithful! There was a time when a sailor was greeted at ports with a string of women to choose from. But then that was decades back! However, over time, with the advent of safety regulations, ISPS Code and other security measures, this has become a thing of the past. Combine that with the possibility of ruining one’s health and life back home, we have a purely fictional idea of a sailor’s entertainment at port. It is undeniable that if looked for, services can be found anywhere in the world, but that’s for any human being and not restricted to a sailor. A new country, a new port offers a plethora of sights and experiences. Also, none understands the value of a relationship (and the loyalty that goes with it) more than a sailor. Time away from loved ones doesn’t weaken bonds but strengthens them instead. Unlike others, seafarers knows the true meaning of – someone special is waiting back at home.
4. Seafarers Are Always Seasick: “Don’t you get seasick?!” One of the most common questions when a sailor proclaims proudly that he works on a ship. Seasickness is a condition that affects few. Is it not mandatory for every seafarer to feel seasick! Much like motion sickness, seasickness is subjective and affects people on a case-to-case basis. And no, it is not a big deal. People get it and then get over it gradually. Every seafarers might get homesick at some point in their careers, but there is no surety that everyone will get seasick.
5. Seafarers Have To Deal With Pirates Everyday: Yes, we know you’ve watched Captain Phillips and Pirates of the Caribbean. And yes, the former as close as it’ll get to a true depiction of an encounter such as that. We also know you are aware and also worried of the rising number of pirates around Somalia. But all the seas the world over are not sprinkled with heaps of pirates. Also, it is not compulsory that a pirate attack is guaranteed in those parts of the world. If safety and security measures are not executed to a full length and there are lapses in judgment, it is only then that pirates have the ability to get ship borne. Gradually though, with the advent of armed guards, things are getting much tougher and dangerous for the pirates. However, as a standalone security measure, sailors still have to make do with water hoses and barbed wires! But that doesn’t mean seafarers have to deal with pirates everyday and everywhere.
6. Seafarers Get To See New Countries: “Oh! You’re in the merchant navy. You must get to travel so much!” Undoubtedly one of the most common statements from people who have not been associated with the merchant navy whatsoever. Times have changed and so have trading patterns. Discharging at ports is fast and efficient, leaving little or no time for shore leave.VLCCs don’t even get to reach port at times.Bulk Carriers are probably the only kind of ships that have the luxury of being at port for over a couple of days. That too, work shifts and stress makes seafarers put bed rest over going out to the city. Just because seafarers visit new ports and countries that doesn’t mean they have the luxury or opportunity to roam around according to their own wish.
7. Seafarers Live a Glamorous Life: People without a fair idea of the merchant navy seem to think that it is a glamorous life. Ships, exotic countries, smart uniforms, great technologies, enchanting sea etc. might make our life at sea seem nothing short of a Hollywood flick. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), people do not get to see the dirty boiler suits, the torn safety shoes, the condition of one’s face at a dusty port, the fatigue that engulf them at the end of the day and so on and so forth. Agreed that there is a certain level of sheen that exists in our line of work. But that luster only comes once all the dirt has been removed.
8. Seafarers Have An Easy Life With 6 Months On Land and 6 Months At Sea: There’s a universal idea that all seafarers have a ‘common 6 months on, 6 months off’ regime. So naturally, they believe that the life is easy for we work for 6 months and laze around for the other 6! Ridiculous, come to think of it. First of all, contracts differ in tenure. It can be 4 on, 2 off or a variety of other combinations depending on the rank and company. Secondly, the months that we don’t work, we’re only spending and not earning. Even with companies that pay while their seafarers are at home, it’s normally much reduced. Third, the work that we do over the few months that we are onboard, makes it necessary for us to go back home and relax; else we’d all go berserk! Couple that with handling family, relationships, exams etc. and we barely get proper time to completely switch off.
9. Seafarers Are Uneducated Fools: Gone are the days when joining the merchant navy meant getting on a ship when one came of age and sailing away. Many people think going to sea doesn’t need much of education. But the truth is today, every rank, including the crew of the ship, has to be well informed, educated and dexterous in theory as well as practice. As far as the officers are concerned, it is a different ball game! Studies pertaining to the merchant navy have become very intense. Subjects ranging from Celestial Navigation  to COLREGs to Chartwork  have to be registered to the brain in a permanent manner. Those who have been through 3 years of BSc in Nautical Science or 4 years of BTech in Marine Engineering will clearly know the hell they have to go through! So, assuming that sailors are complete buffoons with no knowledge of their craft is a very misplaced concept.
10. Seafarers Have to Fight Wars: People often confuse about defense navy. Many believe everyone going to the sea goes to fight wars. The merchant navy is an auxiliary entity that might be called upon in case of dire emergency to assist the navy. However, on a daily operational basis, it has NOTHING to do with the navy or the armed forces of the country in general. The merchant navy is simply a commercial operation wherein transfer of goods/cargo takes place across the world. As in a business wherein goods are exchanged for monetary gains, the merchant navy involves the same process where goods are handed over from A to B for money. So no, please do not confuse it with the navies.
11. Seafarers Must Be Great Swimmers: Just because seafarers have to work at sea, people assume that it is mandatory for them to be great swimmers. However, the fact is seafarers do not have to be swimmers to work at sea. It’s a common misbelief among people that seafarers might need to swim to shores or other ships incase the ship meets with an accident. But no matter how great swimmer a person is, even if the situation demands, it is next to impossible to swim to shores or stay afloat in water in extreme weather conditions. Moreover, there are several personal protective equipment on board ships to ensure that seafarers can float in water during emergencies.
12. Seafarers Don’t Have Anything To Do at Sea: Life is easy for seafarers, there is nothing much to do on board ships – that’s what many people think. A myth goes around that people at sea just lazy around, fish and make merry once the ship sails. As many don’t have a clue about the working of the ship, they think seafarers have lots of time in hand which allows them to booze, travel and relax. However, the fact is seafarers are one of the most hardworking people in the world who have to face serious issues everyday on board.