Things you should know before you join Merchant Navy

Here Are The Few Things You Should Know Before You Join Merchant Navy -

Q.1 What Do You Mean By Merchant Navy?
Ans: Merchant Navy Is A Profession, In Which You Get To Work On A Merchant Vessel/ship. Worldwide Cargo Is Being Transported By These Ships. Oil, Chemical, Packaged Goods, Cars, Iron Ore, Coal Etc Are Different Types Of Cargo And Are Carried In These Type Of Vessels.

Q.2  What Is The Difference Between Navy And Merchant Navy?
Ans: Main Difference Between Navy And Merchant Navy Is That Navy Is An Armed Force Meant For The Protection Of The Country And Works Under The Govt. Where As, Merchant Navy Is A Commercial Sector, Where You Work On A Merchant Vessel And Earn Wages For Your Service Onboard.

Q.3 What Are The Career Prospects In Merchant Navy?
Ans: On A Merchant Ship There Are Three Departments:
(i) Deck Side/Department: Deck Side Represents People Onboard Who Are Responsible For Cargo Operations, Navigation And Other Deck Works.

(ii) Engine Side/Department: Engine Side Represents People Onboard Who Are Responsible For Running And Maintenance Of All Machinery, Including Main Engine For Propulsion.

(iii) Galley Side/Department: Galley Side Represents People Onboard Who Are Responsible For Preparing Food For People Onboard/crew. This Department Also Looks After The Housekeeping Onboard.

Q.4 What Are The Different Ranks And Average Salary At Which You Can Work On Board?
Ans: In Deck Department:(Ranked Higher To Lower)
(i) Master/ Captain: He Is The Highest Authority In The Deck Side And Onboard As Well. In General, He Also Is The Highest Paid Person Onboard. He Looks After Wages, Maneuvering And Lot Other Responsibilities. Average Salary Of A Master Is 10,000-16,000 USD Per Month.

 (ii) Chief Officer:  He Is Second In Command In Deck Side. He Looks After Cargo, Ship Security, Deck Maintenance And Such Other Things.  His Average Salary Lies Between 7,000-10,000 USD Per Month.

(iii) 2nd Officer: He Handles The Passage Planning, Navigational & Cargo Watch And Is Sub-ordinate  Medical Officer After Master. His Average Salary Is 4,000- 6,000 USD Per Month.

(iii) 3rd Officer: He Conducts Navigational And Cargo Watches And Is In Charge Of Life Saving Appliances(LSA) And Fire Fighting Appliances(FFA).His Average Salary Per Month Is 1,600-4,000 USD Per Month.

(iv) Deck Cadet: He Is The Trainee Officer, Assists In All Operations. His Average Salary Is 300-800 USD Per Month.

(v) AB: Able Bodied Seamen, Is A Deck Rating Who Assist Deck Officers In All Their Works. His Average Salary Is  1200-1800 USD Per Month.

(vi) OS: Ordinary Seamen, Is A Junior Deck Rating Who Assist Deck Officers In All Their Works.  His Average Salary Is 500-1000 USD Per Month.

Engine Department:(Ranked Higher To Lower)
(i) Chief Engineer: He Is The In-charge Of Engine Department And Highest Authority In Engine Department. His Rank Is Equivalent To Master Onboard. His Average Salary Is 10,000-16,000 USD Per Month.

(ii) 2nd Engineer: He Is Next To Chief Engineer And Equivalent To Chief Officer, Is The In-charge Of Main Engine And Looks After All Other Machinery And Engine Room Maintenance. His Average Salary Is 7,000-10,000 USD Per Month.

(iii) Electrical Officer: He Is The In-charge Of All Electrical Equipments On Board. His Average Salary Is 3000-6000 USD Per Month.

(iv) 3rd Engineer: He Is In-charge Of Auxiliary Engine And Marine Boilers In Engine Room. His Average Salary Per Month Is 4,000- 6,000 USD Per Month.

(v) 4th Engineer: He Is In-charge Of Purifier, Compressor And Bunker(Fuel Oil And Lub Oil). His Average Salary Is 1,600-3,000 USD Per Month.

(vi) 5th Engineer/Trainee Marine Engineer: He Is Trainee Onboard, Assists Is All Operations. His Average Salary Is 300-1000 USD Per Month.

(vii)Engine Fitter: He Is An Engine Rating, Who Handles Welding, Gas Cutting And Other Maintenance Works. His Average Salary Is 1400-2000 USD Per Month.

(viii) Motorman/Oiler: Motorman Is An Engine Rating, Who Assists Duty Engineers In Their Job. His Average Salary Is 1,200-1,800 USD Per Month.

(ix) Wiper:  Is A Junior/Trainee Engine Rating Who Assist Engineer Officers In All Their Works And Also Do General Cleaning Of Engine Spaces. His Average Salary Is 300-500 USD Per Month.

Galley Department:
(i) Chief Cook: He Is The Head Cook Of The Ship. His Average Salary Is 1500-2000 USD Per Month.

(ii) GS/Steward: He Is The Helper To Cheif Cook And Works As General Service On Board. His Salary Is 500-1000 USD Per Month.
NOTE: All The Salary Mentioned Is Only During The Contract Period Of A Person, Which May Vary From 4 To 8 Months, From Seniors To Juniors. Ranks And Salary May Differ For Company And Type Of Ship.

Q.5 How To Join Merchant Navy?
Ans: For Becoming A Deck/Navigating Officer You Have To Undergo A 3 Year B.Sc In Nautical Science, Or 1 Years Diploma In Nautical Science(DNS) Course In INDIA. The Difference Between The Two Courses Is That  For 2nd Mate Promotional/competency Exams, Eligibility Criteria For DNS Is 18 Months And For B.Sc Its 12 Months Sea Service . Also, DNS Has To Appear For Written Whereas For B.Sc, Written Is Exempted Only Oral Is To Be Cleared.  After Clearing B.Sc/D.N.S You Can Join The Ship As Deck Cadet.The Deck Officers, Are Responsible For The Effective Management Of The Deck Department Including Safe Navigation Of The Ship, Loading And Discharging Of Cargo, Up Keeping And Maintenance Of Ship Safety Of Men And Material Onboard And Observance Of The National Codes Of Conduct Under Merchant Shipping Act An Rules Thereof. After Successful Completion Of BSc. ( Nautical Science) Degree From Any Institute, Deck Cadet Is Require To Put In One Year Sea Going Services Onboard A Merchant Ship To Be Eligible To Appear For The Certificate Of Competency As Second Mate, The Officer Is Eligible For Appointed As 3rd Officer/2nd Officer As Per Their Experience.. For Further Promotion As Chief Officer /Master He Has To Pass Examination Of Chief Mate/Master Respectively After Completing Required Sea Going Service. Master Is The Highest Rank Onboard Achieved In The Deck Department.

For Becoming A Marine Engineer You Have To Undergo A  4 Year B.Tech In Marine Engineering Course Or 1 Year Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) Course After Completing B.Tech In Mechanical Engineering. A Diploma In Marine Engineering Can Also Be Done But The Person Will Have To Appear For Part A Competency Exams, Other Courses Are Exempted From Part A. After Marine Engineering/GME You Can Join The Ship As 5th Engineer/TME And Excel Further In Engine Department. In Engine Department, Cadets After Completing 4 Year Degree Course In Marine Engineering /One Year GME Course After 4 Year B.Tec In Mechanical Engineering , Go For 6 Months Training On Board On Any Merchant Vessel To Be Eligible To Appear For MEO Class IV Exam. After Completing This Exam They Join The Ship As 4th Engineer/3rd Engineer. For Further Promotion As 2nd Engineer/Chief Engineer They Have To Clear MEO Class II/ MEO Class I Exams Respectively. Chief Engineer Is The Highest Rank In Engineering Discipline On Board Ship.

For Becoming A Rating On Board, You Have To Undergo A 1 Year GP Rating Course And For Galley Dept. A Diploma Has To Be Done.

Q.6  Which Colleges Provide These Courses And Mode Of Application?
Ans:  Most Of The Colleges Take Admission Through IMU-CET (Indian Maritime University), Top Colleges In This List Are:
I) Marine Engineering & Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata.
Ii) Marine Engineering & Research Institute (MERI),Mumbai.
Iii) T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai.
Iv) IMU, Chennai.

Other Good Colleges Are:
I)  Samudra Institute Of Maritime Studies(SIMS), Pune.
Ii)  Tolani Maritime Institute, Pune.
Iii)  R.L. College, Madurai.
Iv) VELS College, Chennai.
V) HIMT, Chennai.