Merchant Navy Officer - A Career on Fathoms of Water.

24 January,2023  |  By Brainwonders

Are you obsessed with the gushing waters of the sea? Are you the one who loves voyages and at the same time wants to do something for the nation? Are you the one who is looking for a career at sea? If - Yes, then being a Merchant Navy Officer is the best for you. But wait, What is that? What do such officers do? What education is required to become one? What kind of jobs does the merchant Navy offer? Are you curious to know? Let us find out. 

Career as a Merchant Navy Officer in India: 

In the merchant navy, individuals are employed to check the transportation of goods or passengers via cargoes and ships across different countries and continents. And as a Merchant Navy Officer, you will guide the safe translocation of cargo or passengers on board. They are also needed to coordinate and supervise each other for smooth sailing. Merchant Navy is a Tax-Free Job, which means you won't need to pay any governmental tax. 

A career in the Merchant Navy comprises two jobs: a) Deck Cadet and b) Engineer.

1. Deck Cadet or the Navigation Officer:                 

He is responsible for decisions regarding the steering and manoeuvring of the ship and also navigates and communicates with other decks. He also monitors the weather forecast and makes crucial decisions. The Deck cadet officer is also responsible for loading and unloading cargoes.

• Education Required:                                                                                                                                                           

Senior Secondary Education from PCM stream followed by B.Sc in Nautical Science, B.Sc Marine, etc.

• Admission Process:

1. a) Crack the IMU-CET exam to get admission to colleges offering B.Sc Nautical Science. An interview and a medical check-up follow the exam.
2. b) Several governmental colleges in the south provide admission based on JEE exam conducted by IITs. 

• Training Process: 

One year of pre-sea training in the Maritime Institute is compulsory. After that, they are trained on ships for approximately 18 months. Once the training is completed, all the aspiring candidates appear for exams set up by the government of India. Those who crack this exam are appointed as third officers on the ships. And after accumulating enough experience of around 11 years, they can even reach the position of a captain.

• Colleges offering B.Sc in Nautical Science:  

# Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training

# Tolani Maritime Institute

# Cochin University of Science and Technology

2. Engineering Officer: 

He is responsible for maintaining all the pieces of machinery and gears of the large canoes. He is also responsible for the timely inspection of the ships to avoid tearing machine parts because of overuse, which also prevents mishaps during sails on the water. 

Education Required:    

12th from PCM stream and bachelor's from any one of the below-mentioned streams:

• Marine Engineering
• Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
• Harbour and Ocean Engineering
• Civil Engineering 
• Electricals and Electronics Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering

Admission Process:

1. a) Crack the IMU-CET exam to get admission to colleges offering B.Sc Nautical Science. An interview and a medical check-up follow this.
2. b) Several governmental colleges in the south provide admission based on JEE exam conducted by IITs.

Training Process:

Pre-sea training for a year is com[pulsory for them as well. After that, the candidates are sent for onboard training for 6 months, followed by a competitive governmental exam. Passers are credited as the fourth engineers on the ships. To probe further, they are required to accumulate experience on the sea.

Colleges offering engineering courses: 

• Coimbatore Marine College
• Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training
• Birla Institute of Technology (BITS)
•  Vellore Institute of Technology
•  Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
• National Institute of Technology (NIT) 

Types of Navy Cargos:

There are different commercial vessels on which merchant navy officers work, such as:

• Bulk Carriers
• Roll-ons/ Rolls-off Ships
• Reefer ships
• Tanker Ships
• Passenger Ships
• Cruise Ships
• Chemical Tankers
• LNG Carriers
• Container Ships
• Bulk Carriers
• Offshore Vessels
• Ferries

Eligibility Criterion to obtain a Merchant Navy Rank:

• AGE: The applying candidate must be in the age group of 17 to 25.
• EDUCATION: 12th with at least 60% from PCM stream
• MARITAL STATUS: Eligible candidates must be single while applying for a rank in the merchant navy.
• TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS: They are generally counted as objectionable by senior officers during medical tests.
• EYES: 6/6 vision is preferred; the rest depends on the type of degrees pursued by the applying candidates. Candidates with colour blindness are not eligible.
• PHYSICAL FITNESS: The eligible candidates must be certified by a medical practitioner for fitness. Disable candidates are prohibited.
• GENDER: Both sexes have merchant navy officer qualifications.

Skills Required to Pursue a Career in the Navy:

Seafarers are required to possess the following skills before manoeuvring actual ships at sea:

• Passion for sailing even on the roughest water
• Patience and resilience
• Teamwork abilities
• Critical thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Practical knowledge of physics, mathematics, maritime engineering, etc.
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal and planning skills

Top Merchant Navy Colleges in India:

• Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training
• Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies
• Tolani Institute
• International Maritime Institute
• Coimbatore Marine College
• Vels Academy of Maritime Studies
• Institute of Technology and Marine Engineering

Top Marine Colleges Overseas:

• Edith Cowan University
• School of Marine and Technical Engineering
• Hiroshima National College of Maritime Technology
• British Columbia Institute of Technology, Pacific Marine Training Campus
• The University of New Orleans.

Entrance Examinations

 Some of the entrance exams include:

Entrance Exam	Conducted By	Eligibility	Purpose
IMU-CET	Indian Maritime University (IMU)	10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Math (PCM) and 60% or higher	Admission to B.Sc. Nautical Science, DNS, and Marine Engineering courses at IMU-affiliated institutes
JEE Advanced	IITs (for B.Tech programs)	10+2 with PCM and at least 75% marks	Admission to Marine Engineering programs at IITs
AIMNET	Bharat Shipping Limited	10+2 with PCM	Admission to various Merchant Navy courses across India

Subjects Studied by Merchant Navy Scholars:

Merchant Navy requires a piece of deep knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Some of those subjects have been addressed below:

1. Naval Architecture
2. Maritime Law
3. Environmental Science
4. Marine Boiler and System of Engineering
5. Mechanics of Fluids
6. Voyage Planning and Collision Prevention
7. Nautical Physics and Electronics Paper
8. Cargo Machines and Marine Communications
9. Marine Auxillary Machine
10. Principles of Navigation
11. Marine Heat Engines and Air Conditioning
12. Marine Machines and System Designs
13. STCW and Ship Fire Prevention

Training and Sea Service

Once you're done with academic course, you'll need to get some training at sea:

1. Training Before You Ship Out You have to go to a maritime training school before joining a ship. They'll teach you safety, how to survive, and basic ship stuff.

2. Training on a Ship You also have to spend a certain amount of time working on an actual ship. It's super important to get real experience and learn how a ship runs every day.

Certification and Licensing

Certificate of Competency (CoC): To get a Certificate of Competency (CoC), you need to pass some tests from the DG Shipping. If you want to work as an officer (like a Deck Officer or Marine Engineer) on a ship, you have to have this certificate. It basically proves you know your stuff and are qualified to do the job.

Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC): Think of the CDC as a seafarer's passport. DG Shipping issues it, and it keeps track of all your time working at sea, like what ships you were on and for how long. It's super important for showing who you are, what experience you have, and that you're qualified. You need a CDC to work on ships that travel to other countries. It helps make sure everything is legal and keeps track of your work history.

Merchant Navy Salary Insights:

The salary of merchant navy officers differs according to the allocated positions and the experience gained. The average salary starts from Rs. 0.4 lakh per annum. A mid-career officer can easily earn up to Rs. 9 lakh per annum, while the highest rise in salary in India is expected to be Rs. 24 lakh per annum.

Scope of Merchant Navy in India:        

The merchant navy offers ample opportunities to those brave hearts eager to explore the uncertainties of the sea. Shipping companies from the private and public sectors offer the most lucrative careers in the merchant navy with handsome salaries. Moreover, this sector is vested with different departments and can be chosen according to the candidate's interests. Furthermore, navigating officers or marine engineers enjoy 2 to 3 months of holiday. 

Career Progression

1. Deck Officer Career Track

Third Officer: So, you usually begin your career as a deck officer here. Pass your Certificate of Competency (CoC) exam, get some sea time. As Third Officer, you're on watch, dealing with safety things, and doing navigation.

Second Officer: After being a Third Officer for a bit, pass more tests, and get more sea time, you can become a Second Officer. You'll have more responsibility with navigation, safety gear, and watch duties.

Chief Officer: The Chief Officer (also called the First Mate) is second in command on the ship. They handle cargo, safety gear, and make sure everyone follows the rules for safety. They also watch the crew and run things daily.

Captain/Master: The Captain is the boss on the ship. They're in charge of everything – steering, making decisions, and keeping the crew and ship safe. What the Captain says is the rule. They watch over everything, from loading cargo to making sure we don't hit anything.

2. Marine Engineer Career Track

Fourth Engineer: So, this is where you start in the engine room. You need sea time and a CoC to get here. Your main thing is regular maintenance and keeping an eye on the equipment to make sure it's running okay.

Third Engineer: Once you've been a Fourth Engineer for a bit and passed a few more exams, you could get promoted to Third Engineer. This means you'll be handling more gear and taking on engine watch duties.

Second Engineer: The Second Engineer? They're basically the second boss in the engine room. They're really vital for keeping the ship's machinery working well. They take care of the main engine and boilers, trying to keep the engine room running smoothly.

Chief Engineer: The Chief Engineer is the head honcho of the whole engine department. They're in control of all the tech stuff, like keeping the machines going, dealing with the engine room systems, and making sure we have power. The Chief makes sure the ship can run and that all the engineering stuff is in good shape.

Merchant Navy jobs after 12th:

Job Position	Average Salary (Per Month) in India
Deck Cadet	₹20,000 - ₹50,000
Engine Cadet	₹20,000 - ₹50,000
Nautical Officer (Third Officer)	₹60,000 - ₹1,00,000
Engineering Officer (Fourth Engineer)	₹60,000 - ₹1,20,000
Electro-Technical Officer	₹60,000 - ₹1,20,000
Second Officer	₹1,00,000 - ₹2,50,000
Chief Engineer	₹1,50,000 - ₹3,50,000
Captain	₹2,50,000 - ₹5,00,000

Perks of Joining Merchant Navy Cadetship:

• Working and travelling simultaneously
• Tax Benefits
• No fancy degrees (for some posts)
• Early Financial Independence
• Job Security
• Long Vacations
• NRI Status
• Temporary seniors and colleagues

Conclusion:

Merchant Navy offers promising careers with great prospects. Seafarers with high zest can opt for a career in the merchant navy. The job offers satisfaction with zero regrets.

If you are looking for a career in the merchant navy but are unsure where to begin, ping us at Brainwonders, and we will guide you with a proper roadmap for an amazing career in the merchant navy.