Merchant Navy Courses
Introduction:
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.