Merchant Navy Courses
Introduction:
A Merchant Navy offers commercial services unlike its military counterpart. It includes three types of fleets, namely cargo carriers, passenger liners and oil tankers as well as other special type of vehicles. The duties of a merchant navy officer are centered around three areas- the deck, the engine room and the service department. The captain, second officer, chief officer, third officer and several other officers constitute the deck officers. The engine room comprises engineers and the electrical officer while the service department focuses on the operations in the kitchen and other services. The option of traveling to far-flung places of interest and an adventurous journey on a ship makes a career in Merchant Navy lucrative notwithstanding the pain of staying away from one's family for long and the stress of the job. Interestingly enough, the recent past has witnessed entry of several women in the roles of radio officers as well as doctors in this field. You can pursue a career in this field by opting for the Merchant Navy Courses in India.
Qualifications for Merchant Navy Courses in India:Admission to Merchant Navy Courses in India is conducted through IIT- JEE. The two areas where training is given to students enrolling in these courses are Marine Engineering and Navigation Science. One common eligibility criteria for merchant navy officers in both the
fields is medical fitness.
The courses and their details are as follows - B.E Marine Engineering, Duration: 4 years; Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English
B.S.C Nautical Science, Duration: 3 years, Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English
M.E Marine Engineering, Duration: 2 years, Eligibility: B.E Marine Engineering.
After completing a course in Marine Engineering or Nautical Science, a fresher can be recruited as a junior engineer or Deck Cadet respectively.
A Merchant Navy officer is further promoted when he receives a certificate of Competency. This certificate is given only when he passes an exam organized by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) in Mumbai.
Institutes offering Merchant Navy Courses in India:
The major institutes giving training on nautical sciences and marine engineering are -
The Training Ship Chanakya (T S Chanakya), Karaus, Navi Mumbai.
Marine Engineering Research Institute, P-19, Taratolla Rd, Kolkata-700088
Marine Engineering & Research Institute, Hay Bunder Road, Mumbai - 400 033
Directorate General of Shipping, Jahaj Bhavan, Ballard Estate, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Mumbai 400001
Benefits of Merchant Navy Courses in India:A Merchant Navy job is an ideal one for those with an adventurous bent of mind and a traveler's spirit. The enviable pay package offered by this job is enough to overcome the drudgery of spending never ending days on sea. After completing Merchant Navy Courses in India, you can draw a salary ranging between Rs.12,000 to Rs.8 lakhs a month. Even a student who has completed 10+2 level with PCM can join maritime industry as Deck cadet after pre-sea training by the recruiter. One with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering can join the Merchant Navy directly after getting trained through a 9 months-Pre-sea course in Marine Engineering offered by Marin Engineering and Research Institute.
Scope for a Career in Merchant Navy in India:Following completion of Merchant Navy Courses in India, you can find employment in Deck Department as navigational officers such as the Captain, the First Mate, Second Mate and Third Mates. In the Engine Room, a student can get a job as a marine engineer. While the ship engineer or chief engineer heads this department, ensuring smooth running of all the equipment in the engine room, the second engineer looks after the day to day functioning of the engine room. You will be entrusted with the job of serving the crew and the passengers on board if employed in the Service Department, which consist of stewards, bakers, messmen, etc.
Scope for a Career in Merchant Navy Abroad:The Merchant Navy forms the backbone of international trade. Thus, Merchant navy officers can be employed by foreign shipping companies in the posts mentioned above.
