Career in Merchant Navy

The opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure on the high seas, besides the possibility of high remunerations attracts many youngsters to make a career in the Merchant Navy. Merchant Navy is different from the navy in the sense that it offers commercial services, as opposed to the navy, which is largely involved in the defence of a nation. 

Merchant Navy is the backbone of international trade, carrying cargo all over the world. The merchant ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one country to another. Without the merchant navy, much of the import-export business would come to a grinding halt!

A career in the merchant navy is considered a glamorous job, especially by the people who have been bitten by the travel bug. It offers an opportunity to visit new and exotic places all around the globe. Merchant Navy career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and a bit challenging. 

Eligibility Criteria

• The eligibility for joining merchant navy is class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. 
• Candidates have to be unmarried Indian citizens (male or female).
• Normal vision is required but glasses up to plus or minus 2.5 may be allowed.
• Admission is through an entrance followed by a screening test and a main written examination.
• After clearing the test, there is an interview and a medical test.
• You also need to complete a ship-training course prior to the employment. The course is generally short-term where the candidates are taught basic security concerns of voyaging.

There are some private institutes, which offer training for merchant navy as well. These institutes prepare students for jobs such as deck cadets and marine engineering jobs.

Job Prospects

There are enormous employment opportunities in this field. Candidates who have finished the basic course can get a job very easily through various consultants and placement agencies. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships, as well as roll off/roll on ships. The possibility of finding employment in cargo ships is more as compared to the others.

Companies that run merchant ships require trained people who can operate and maintain the ships. Some of these companies are: Chevron and Mobil of USA, Wallem Ship Management of Hong Kong, Denholm of UK, K Line, Bibby Ship Management, d'Amico etc. India too has its shipping companies, such as the Shipping Corporation of India, Great Eastern Shipping, Essar and Chowgule Shipping. Trained people are required for the three main departments of the ship: the deck, the engine and the service department. 

In India, job opportunities are also available in government and private shipping companies like Shipping Corporation of India, clearing houses, del credere agents etc.

Pay Package

In Merchant Navy, the salary can range from anywhere between Rs.12000 to Rs.8 lakhs per monththough the pay structure differ from company to company, city to city, the export-import needs, seniority etc. All crew members and officers are given free meals on board and senior officers can take along their wives for the voyage.

A Junior Engineer on a ship can earn around Rs. 30,000 per month with free boarding and lodging while signed on board the vessel. The next level is of Second Engineer and finally, Chief Engineer on a ship. As you keep getting promoted, your salary increases substantially. A Chief Engineer at sea earns Rs. 1.5 lakhs per month or more net of taxes. It takes about 6-7 years for a Junior Engineer Officer to get promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, depending on individual capabilities and job opportunities available.

A Third Officer's salary is around Rs. 50,000 per month plus free boarding and lodging while on board.Next levels in increasing order of seniority are Second Officer, a Chief Officer and Captain of a ship. A Captain's pay package is Rs. 2 lakhs per month or more net of taxes. It takes about 8 years for a Third Officer to get promoted to the rank of Captain, depending on individual capabilities and the job opportunities available.

Besides this, imported liquor, cigarettes, canned foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. They are also entitled to four month leave every year. The interesting fact is that there is no income tax return imposed on the earnings of a merchant navy professional.  

Life in merchant navy can be adventurous for all those with wanderlust. The long periods of solitude notwithstanding, the opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so, just cannot be argued with.

Merchant Navy Institutes

Indian institutes approved by the Directorate General of Shipping is an attached office of the Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India and offering courses in merchant navy are:
 

 1 C.V. Raman College of Engineering

Bhubaneswar

 2

 AMET University

Chennai

 3

 Balaji Seamen Training Institute
Chennai

 4

 Chennai School of Ship Management
Chennai

 5

 Chidambaram Institute of Maritime Technology
Chennai

 6

 CMC Maritime Academy
Chennai

 7

 Cosmopolitan Technology of Maritime
Chennai

 8

 Hindustan Institute Of Maritime Training Post Sea  Training Centre
Kilpauk, Chennai

9

 HIMT College Hindustan Institute Of Maritime Training  Pre-Sea Training Centre
Kalpakkam (Chennai)

 10

 School of Seamanship and Nautical Technology
Kancheepuram
(Tamil Nadu)

 11

 GKM College of Engineering & Technology
Chennai

 12

 GKM Institute of Marine Sciences & Technology
Chennai

 13

 Indian Maritime College
Chennai

 14

 Indus Seafarers Training Academy
Chennai

 15

 International Maritime Academy
Chennai

 16

 Maritime Foundation
Chennai

 17

 MASSA Maritime Academy
Chennai

 18

 Indian Maritime University (National Maritime Academy)
Chennai

 19

 Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Institute of Maritime Science  & Engineering
Chidambaram

 20

 S.B.Vignesh Marine Training Centre
Chennai

 21

 Southern Academy of Maritime Studies
Chennai

 22

 School of Maritime Studies (Vels University)
Chennai

 23

 School of Maritime Studies (Vels University)
Chennai

 24

 Coimbatore Marine College
Coimbatore

 25

 Park Maritime Academy
Coimbatore

 26

 SeaSkills Maritime Academy
Coimbatore

 27

 Marine Training Academy
Daman

28

 Centre for Maritime Education and Training
Dehradun

29

 Mumbai Maritime Training Institute
Dehradun

 30

 Oceanic Maritime Academy
Dehradun

 31

 Agnel Maritime Academy
Goa

 32

 Francon's Marine Academy
Goa

 33

 Institute of Maritime Studies
Goa

 34

 Institute of Petroleum Safety, Health & Environment  Management
Goa

 35

 NUSI Maritime Academy
Goa

 36

 Seascan Marine Services Pvt Ltd
Goa

 37

 Natcom Education & Research Foundation
Gurgaon

 38

 Haldia Institute of Maritime Studies & Research
Haldia

 39

 Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy
Karjat

40

 Indian Maritime University  (Kandla Campus)
New Kandla

 41

 Amer Maritime Training Academy
Kanpur

 42

 Noorul Islam University
Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu)

 43

 U. V. Patel College of Engineering
Kharva (North Gujarat)

 44

 MMTI's Education & Research Trust
Khopoli

 45

 Mohammed Sathak Engineering College
Kilakarai(Tamilnadu)

 46

 Cochin Shipyard Limited
Kochi

 47

 Euro Tech Maritime Academy
Kochi

 48

 Institute of Marine Engineers (India)
Kochi

49

 Indian Maritime University (National Maritime Academy)
Kochi

 50

 Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering of Cochin  University of Science and Technology.
Kochi

 51

 Univan Maritime Training Academy
Kochi

 52

 College of Maritime Studies & Research
Kolkata

 53

 Garden Reach Ship Builders & Engineers Ltd
Kolkata

 54

 Indian Maritime University, Kolkata Campus [Indian  Institute of Port Management]
Kolkata

 55

 Kolkata Port Trust
Kolkata

 56

 Marine Education Charitable Trust
Kolkata

 57

 Indian Maritime University (MERI)
Kolkata

 58

 Maritime Academy of India
Kolkata

 59

 Mercantile Marine Academy Foundation
Kolkata

 60

 S.E.I. Education Trust
Kolkata

 61

 Seacom Marine College
Kolkata

 62

 Sensea Maritime Academy
Kolkata

 63

 Centre for Maritime Education & Training
Lucknow

 64

 Subbalakshmi Lakshmipathy College of Science
Madurai

 65

 RL Institute of Nautical Science
Madurai

 66

 Mangalore Marine College and Technology
Mangalore

 67

 J. Sons Merchant Navy Institute
Meerut

 68

 Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre
Mumbai

 69

 Arya Marine Academy
Mumbai

 70

 Bonzer Academy of Maritime Studies
Mumbai

 71

 Don Bosco Normar Maritime Academy
Mumbai

 72

 Gurship Education Trust Maritime Training Institute
Mumbai

 73

 Indian Register of Shipping
Mumbai

 74

 Institute of Marine Engineers (India)
Navi Mumbai

 75

 International Marine Academy
Mumbai

 76

 International Maritime Training Centre
Mumbai

 77

 Indian Maritime University (LBS College of AMS)
Mumbai

78

 Mangalore Marine College (MMC) [Mumbai Campus]
Mumbai

 79

 Indian Maritime University (MERI)
Mumbai

 80

 Marine Medical Clinic
Mumbai

 81

 Marine Training Academy
Mumbai

 82

 Maritime Training Institute
Mumbai

 83

 Mumbai Maritime Training Institute
Mumbai

 84

 Mazagon Dock Limited.
Mumbai

 85

 Naval Maritime Academy West
Mumbai

 86

 OERC Academy
Mumbai

 87

 Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies
Mumbai

 88

 Seafarers Marine Institute
Mumbai

 89

 School of Synergic Studies
Mumbai

 90

 SCMS Maritime Training Institute
Mumbai

 91

 St. Xavier's Technical Institute
Mumbai

 92

 Suraksha Marine
Mumbai

 93

 Tolani Maritime Institute
Mumbai

 94

 TS Rahaman
Mumbai

 95

 Univan Maritime Training Academy
Mumbai

 96

 ABS Industrial Verification (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Navi Mumbai

 97

 Fleet Management Training Institute
Navi Mumbai

 98

 BP Marine Academy
Navi Mumbai

 999

 MASSA Maritime Academy
Navi Mumbai

 100

 Pentagon Maritime Training & Research Institute
Navi Mumbai

 101

 Ramana Academy of Maritime Studies
Navi Mumbai

 102

 Sagar Gyan Academy
Navi Mumbai

 103

 Setrac College of Offshore Training
Navi Mumbai

 104

 SNS Maritime Training Institute
Navi Mumbai

 105

 Indian Maritime University (TS Chanakya)
Navi Mumbai

 106

 United Marine Academy
Navi Mumbai

 107

 Yak Management & Marine Education Centre
Navi Mumbai

 108

 Yak Educational Trust
Navi Mumbai

 109

 Applied Research International
New Delhi

 110

 Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre
New Delhi

 111

 Aquatech Institute of Maritime Studies
New Delhi

 112

 Fosma Maritime Institute and Research Organization
New Delhi

 113

 Oceans XV Educational Trust
New Delhi

 114

 Sriram Institute of Marine Studies
New Delhi

 115

 International Maritime Institute Ltd
Noida

 116

 Orissa Maritime Academy
Paradip

 117

 National Inland Navigation Institute
Patna

 118

 Institute of Marine Education & Research Pvt Ltd
Patna

 119

 Neotia Institute of Technology, Management and  Science
24-Pargans(S) (W.Bengal)

 120

 Maritime Education Training & Research Institute
24-Pargans(S)(W.Bengal)

 121

 Trident College of Marine Technology
24-Pargans(S)(W.Bengal)

 122

 School of Higher Academic and Professional Education
Panchkula (Harayana)

123

 Indian Maritime University [Karaikal Campus]
Pundechery

 124

 Pondicherry Maritime Academy
Puducherry

 125

 Sri Chakra Maritime College
Puducherry

 126

 Marine Officers Training Academy
Pondicherry

 127

 RVS College of Maritime Science and Engineering
Pondicherry

 128

 Sai Ram Shipping Science Institute
Pondicherry

 129

 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Govt. Polytechnique
Port Blair

 130

 Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies
Pune

 131

 Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education & Training
Pune

 132

 Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies
Pune

 133

 Tolani Maritime Institute
Pune

 134

 Vishwakarma Maritime Institute
Pune

 135

 Commander Ali's Academy of Merchant Navy
Secunderabad

 136

 Srivenkateshwara College of Engineering
Sriperumbadur (Tamilnadu)

 137

 Columbus Maritime Training Institute
Thane (Maharashtra)

 138

 Baba Marine Institute
Thane (Maharashtra)

 139

 Mariner's Academy
Thane (Maharashtra)

 140

 Tamilnadu Maritime Academy
Thoothukudi

 141

 PSN College of Engineering & Technology
Tirunelveli (T.Nadu)

142

 Maritime Training Institute [SCI] Tuticorin Campus
Tuticorin

 143

 Asha International Institute of Marine Technology
Varanasi

 144

 Sri Nandhanam Maritime Academy
Vellore (Tamil Nadu)

 145

 Praveenya Institute of Marine Engineering & Maritime  Studies
Visakhapatnam (AP)

 146

 National Ship Design & Research Centre

Vizianagaram (AP)

International Institute offering course in merchant navy are

• Association of Marine Electronics and Radio College (AMERC)

Glassglow College of Nautical Studies
Glassglow,
United Kingdom