WHAT IS MERCHANT NAVY?
People who work in merchant navy work on board merchant ships or cargo ships that carry cargo over sea to different places across the world. Navy is inaccurate terminology. You do not join the navy as in the Armed forces when you work in merchant navy but join a private or government owned shipping company that transports cargo.
You may be attracted to merchant navy for the opportunity to travel to different ports, work with multinational crew, the lucrative financial rewards the industry promises, the adventure of being on sea and even the long layoffs on shore between voyages.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CAREER TRACKS?
People on board the ship work in one of the two departments: The Nautical (Deck) Department and the Engineering Department. In the nautical department, the role of the navigating or deck or nautical officer is to refer to equipment such as radar systems to keep the ship on course. They also coordinate cargo loading and discharge operations, maintain the ship, and supervise the crew of the ship. A deck officer starts his career as a TNOC (Cadet), rising to Captain of the ship (Ship’s Master or Master Mariner). The ‘Ship’s Master’ is in charge of the ship.
In the engineering department, an engine officer begins as a Junior Engineer, rising to the Chief Engineer. Their job is to maintain and manage equipment on board the ship.
HOW DOES ONE JOIN THE MERCHANT NAVY?
Nautical Department: You need to study Nautical Science. Take BSC Nautical Science after class 12.
Engineering Department: You need to study Marine Engineering. Take B. Tech. Marine Engineering after class 12.The top colleges in the field are:
T.S.Chanakya, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Campus
Marine Engineering & Research Institute, Mumbai
Marine Engineering & Research Institute, Kolkata
National Maritime Academy, Chennai
IMU-Visakhapatnam Campus
To apply to these colleges, you need to apply to Indian Maritime University. Admission in on the basis of receiving an aggregate of 100 marks or more in IIT JEE, with a minimum of 15 marks in each of the three subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
BSc Nautical Science and B Tech Marine Engineering courses are also offered by other universities.
Those with a B Sc with physics or engineering in any branch can obtain a BSc Nautical Science by going through a one-year diploma in nautical science offered through the Indian Maritime University. To apply for the diploma you have to appear for the Common Entrance Test of the university.
These qualifications help you develop your career in the shipping industry.
WHAT ARE SOME SOFT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB?
You may want to be aware that long periods away at sea can be intimidating for some and the long separation from family can be unsettling as you grow older.
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ON SHORE?
Opportunities exist on shore for people who no longer wish to sail but these opportunities are not as financially rewarding as are opportunities at sea. These opportunities exist in shipping companies, oil industry and other logistics intensive industries. Those that do want to shift to a role on shore often upgrade their administrative and management skills through a programme such as an MBA to prepare for the new demands of their changed jobs.
