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Merchant Navy – Career Opportunities for Indians

By
Sandeep Eranti,
Marine Engineer, Transocean Pvt. Ltd
 
Introduction
Many would mistake Merchant Navy for Indian Navy, which protects our sea shores and high seas that surround our country. Indeed Merchant Navy has nothing to do with defense, it is the navy which is entirely trade oriented.

Merchant navy as an entity dates back to 17th century. It was an offshoot of the British Royal Navy’s attempt to get all the names of seafarers into a single registry, which could be used during the times of conflict.

Though its origins were in Britain, today India has become the source for skilled seafarers and Indians are working in Merchant Navy fleets across the globe. There are hundreds of European and Asian shipping companies that do manning from India for several valid reasons, cheap labour, huge work force and communication in English. Shipping Authority of India is the governing body for shipping operations mainly based in Mumbai with offices in other parts of India.

Despite its lion share in work force, Indian companies do not really own merchant fleet in commensurate proportion. A huge part of the fleets belong to European and far East Asian countries. Manning in India by shipping companies is not as young as IT industry, but it dates back to 3-4 decades and the potential has been increasing at a rapid pace. The meteoritic rise of Merchant Navy is not only confined to India; but it has been the trend all around the world.

Following are some of the renowned merchant navies of the world:
  • British Merchant Navy
  • Canadian Merchant Navy
  • Greek Merchant Navy
  • Indian Merchant Navy
  • New Zealand Merchant Navy
  • Pakistani Merchant Navy
  • Polish Merchant Navy
  • Swiss Merchant Marine
  • United States Merchant Marine
Life in High Seas
Honestly, life in high seas is something that you can never happen to experience being a civilian. Though this author is a professional seafarer, it his personal opinion that one must experience sea life at least once in their lifetime. However, having said that, every coin has its two sides, if you choose to be a seafarer you must have extraordinary strength to be happy about what you are doing, otherwise you will become skeptic and your life will become tough.

Typically, merchant navy contracts lasts from 3-9 months; each time you will be entering into a new contract or agreement. You always have satellite communication which is quite expensive to make calls but going back to home during an emergency is quite a long road. If you do not have any social responsibilities at home and your family do not entirely depend on you to live and all you want is to earn money then this profession might be for you. Never the less personal passion towards working on board a ship plays a major role too.

Salaries in shipping seems very high for an land jobbed officer, but when compared to people who excel very well at what they do, money is the big thing that this career has to offer. I know many a seafarer who quit their jobs in the middle of the career and found some other avenues of their interest than just driving ships around.

There is a saying - “seamen are the finest people on the planet”. For an instance, I find it true, because having gone through those rough patches to progress in career, for sure they might have become storehouses of finest experiences, one can gain in his life time. Again it is about what you want from your profession and it all comes down to your personal choice. I strongly suggest you to find a Merchant navy officer and listen to their personal experience before you make your career choice.

Job Profiles
A typical merchant vessel contains 3 departments, with the following positions-
  1. Deck Department
    • Master
    • Chief Officer
    • Second Officer
    • Third Officer
    • Deck Cadet
    • Boatswain
    • Able Seamen
    • Ordinary Seamen
  2. Engineering Department
    • Chief Engineer
    • Second Engineer
    • Third Engineer
    • Fourth Engineer
    • Electrical Engineer/ Electrician
    • Fifth Engineer/Junior Engineer
    • Oiler/Motorman
    • Wiper/ Utility man
  3. Steward’s Department
    • Chief Steward
    • Chief Cook
    • Steward’s Assistant
Passenger vessels have much different Steward’s department structure depending on the company requirements. If you have already made up your mind to join merchant navy, by now you must be wondering which department you should choose. Each department has its uniqueness and entry requirements. There are about 200 institutions all around India which offer specialised courses. Please see the list of institutions at the end of the article.

Eligibility Criteria
To have look at eligibility please CLICK HERE.

Salaries
Deck Department

Profile

Salary

Master

10000-12000 USD/month

Chief Officer

8000-10000 USD/month

Second Officer Third Officer

5000-7000 USD/month

Deck Cadet

500-1200 USD/month

Boatswain

1500-3000 USD/month

Able Seamen

1000-2500 USD/month

Ordinary Seamen

800-1500 USD/month


Engineering Department

Profile

Salary

Chief Engineer

10000-12000 USD/month

Second Engineer

8000-10000 USD/month

Third Engineer

5000-7000 USD/month

Fourth Engineer

3000-4000 USD/month

Electrical Engineer/ Electrician

3000-4000 USD/month

Fifth Engineer/Junior Engineer

500-1200 USD/month

Oiler/Motorman

1000-2500 USD/month

Wiper/ Utility man

800-1500 USD/month


Steward’s Department

Profile

Salary
Chief Steward 1500-2000 USD/month
Chief Cook 1000-1500 USD/month
Steward’s Assistant 800-1500 USD/month

Certificate of Competency
Seafarers need to get the Certificate of Competency (CoC), which is a license of competency of a skilled officer to perform his task onboard a ship. Many countries issue licenses and the most famous and well recognized licenses are of India, UK, Singapore and New Zealand. You can try anyone of these licenses depending on the shipping company requirements.

You can also check out CoC criteria of International Maritime organization (IMO), Maritime and Coastguard agency, UK (MCA) and United States Coastguard (USCG), which are internationally recognized maritime bodies.

My experiences and prospects: Bon Voyage
I am a mechanical engineer and then did my pre-sea training from ARI, New Delhi for 6 months then joined my first vessel from UK and sailed for 9 months to be eligible for the class 4 exams from UK. There are different paths to be a seafarer and choose which one suit you best. I had a good time on my first ship and every ship from there is new and unique, however the basic working principles remain the same no matter how big the ship is.

Every early morning wake up evidences new place. You live, work there and make your ship home for the next 4 months from the date of joining. Work environment of a ship is not so different from a regular office as ships are mandated and designed for highly safe working environment. For a ship owner, time is money, so ships are pushed to their limits to deliver the goods on time. And officers on board, makes sure that the ship stays fit and up for the next voyage. The cycle repeats every day but what makes the difference here is the types of challenges nature throw at you. Life at sea is challenging in every possible way- mentally, physically, technically, morally. One simple mistake on board could costs lives of men and environment. So the ship demands highly skilled individuals, but on the other hand sea demands brave and strong person to conquer the great oceans.

You would see a million places on earth and finally you come home every time it feels like as if it’s the first time and realize that home is the most beautiful place you have ever been.
Sandeep Eranti, 4th Engineer, Transco Pvt. Ltd

About shipping companies:
Shipping Corporation of India:
SCI in short a government body owned and operated by the Indian government, this is not so different from other foreign companies, and the only difference is the medium of currency the salary is being paid. More or less the SCI falls in to typical category of shipping companies.

There are many other foreign and a few Indian companies owned by respective governments of the countries and corporate and for the list of approved manning agencies of shipping companies can be found on DG shipping website
www.dgshipping.gov.in/

Shipping Companies offering Jobs:
Ref: DGSHIPPING
  • Maersk Line India Pvt. Ltd
  • CMA CGM Group
  • British petroleum
  • Pacific international limited
  • Anglo Eastern Ship Management (India) Ltd.
  • Fleet Personnel Pvt. Ltd.
  • Shipping corporate of India
  • Bernhard Schulte Ship management (India) Pvt. Ltd.
  • Tanker Pacific
  • Dynacom Tankers Management Pvt. Ltd.
  • Executive Ship Management Pvt. Ltd.
  • Shell shipping
  • Sea landia Group
  • Transocean Pvt. Ltd.
  • Bibby Ship Management
  • Chellaram Shipping Pvt. Ltd.
List of all approved Training Institutes
Ref: DGSHIPPING

Name of Institute

City/State

C.V. Raman College of Engineering

Bhubaneswar

AMET University

Chennai

Balaji Seamen Training Institute

Chennai

Chennai School of Ship Management

Chennai

Chidambaram Institute of Maritime Technology

Chennai

CMC Maritime Academy

Chennai

Cosmopolitan Technology of Maritime

Chennai

Hindustan Institute Of Maritime Training Post Sea Training Centre

Kilpauk, Chennai

HIMT College Hindustan Institute Of Maritime Training Pre-Sea Training Centre

Kalpakkam (Chennai)

School of Seamanship and Nautical Technology

Kancheepuram

 

(Tamil Nadu)

GKM College of Engineering & Technology

Chennai

GKM Institute of Marine Sciences & Technology

Chennai

Indian Maritime College

Chennai

Indus Seafarers Training Academy

Chennai

International Maritime Academy

Chennai

Maritime Foundation

Chennai

MASSA Maritime Academy

Chennai

Indian Maritime University (National Maritime Academy)

Chennai

Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Institute of Maritime Science & Engineering

Chidambaram

S.B. Vignesh Marine Training Centre

Chennai

Southern Academy of Maritime Studies

Chennai

School of Maritime Studies (Vels University)

Chennai

School of Maritime Studies (Vels University)

Chennai

Coimbatore Marine College

Coimbatore

Park Maritime Academy

Coimbatore

SeaSkills Maritime Academy

Coimbatore

Marine Training Academy

Daman

Centre for Maritime Education and Training

Dehradun

Mumbai Maritime Training Institute

Dehradun

Oceanic Maritime Academy

Dehradun

Agnel Maritime Academy

Goa

Francon's Marine Academy

Goa

Institute of Maritime Studies

Goa

Institute of Petroleum Safety, Health & Environment Management

Goa

NUSI Maritime Academy

Goa

Seascan Marine Services Pvt Ltd

Goa

Natcom Education & Research Foundation

Gurgaon

Haldia Institute of Maritime Studies & Research

Haldia

Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy

Karjat

Indian Maritime University (Kandla Campus)

New Kandla

Amer Maritime Training Academy

Kanpur

Noorul Islam University

Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu)

U. V. Patel College of Engineering

Kharva (North Gujarat)

MMTI's Education & Research Trust

Khopoli

Mohammed Sathak Engineering College

Kilakarai (Tamilnadu)

Cochin Shipyard Limited

Kochi

Euro Tech Maritime Academy

Kochi

Institute of Marine Engineers (India)

Kochi

Indian Maritime University (National Maritime Academy)

Kochi

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

Kochi

Univan Maritime Training Academy

Kochi

College of Maritime Studies & Research

Kolkata

Garden Reach Ship Builders & Engineers Ltd

Kolkata

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

Kolkata

Kolkata Port Trust

Kolkata

Marine Education Charitable Trust

Kolkata

Indian Maritime University (MERI)

Kolkata

Maritime Academy of India

Kolkata

Mercantile Marine Academy Foundation

Kolkata

Seacom Marine College

Kolkata

Centre for Maritime Education & Training

Lucknow

Subbalakshmi Lakshmipathy College of Science

Madurai

RL Institute of Nautical Science

Madurai

Mangalore Marine College

Mangalore

J. Sons Merchant Navy Institute

Meerut

Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre

Mumbai

Arya Marine Academy

Mumbai

Bonzer Academy of Maritime Studies

Mumbai

Don Bosco Normar Maritime Academy

Mumbai

Gurship Education Trust Maritime Training Institute

Mumbai

Indian Register of Shipping

Mumbai

Institute of Marine Engineers (India)

Mumbai

International Marine Academy

Mumbai

International Maritime Training Centre

Mumbai

Indian Maritime University (LBS College of AMS)

Mumbai

Mangalore Marine College (MMC) [Mumbai Campus]

Mumbai

Indian Maritime University (MERI)

Mumbai

Marine Medical Clinic

Mumbai

Marine Training Academy

Mumbai

Maritime Training Institute

Mumbai

Mumbai Maritime Training Institute

Mumbai

Mazagon Dock Limited.

Mumbai

Naval Maritime Academy West

Mumbai

OERC Academy

Mumbai

Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies

Mumbai

Seafarers Marine Institute

Mumbai

School of Synergic Studies

Mumbai

SCMS Maritime Training Institute

Mumbai

St. Xavier's Technical Institute

Mumbai

Suraksha Marine

Mumbai

Tolani Maritime Institute

Mumbai

TS Rahaman

Mumbai

Univan Maritime Training Academy

Mumbai

ABS Industrial Verification (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Navi Mumbai

Fleet Management Training Institute

Navi Mumbai

BP Marine Academy

Navi Mumbai

MASSA Maritime Academy

Navi Mumbai

Pentagon Maritime Training & Research Institute

Navi Mumbai

Ramana Academy of Maritime Studies

Navi Mumbai

Sagar Gyan Academy

Navi Mumbai

Setrac College of Offshore Training

Navi Mumbai

SNS Maritime Training Institute

Navi Mumbai

Indian Maritime University (TS Chanakya)

Navi Mumbai

United Marine Academy

Navi Mumbai

Yak Management & Marine Education Centre

Navi Mumbai

Yak Educational Trust

Navi Mumbai

Applied Research International

New Delhi

Fees - Applied Research International

New Delhi

Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre

New Delhi

Aquatech Institute of Maritime Studies

New Delhi

Fosma Maritime Institute and Research Organization

New Delhi

Oceans XV Educational Trust

New Delhi

Sriram Institute of Marine Studies

New Delhi

International Maritime Institute Ltd

Noida

Orissa Maritime Academy

Paradip

National Inland Navigation Institute

Patna

Institute of Marine Education & Research Pvt Ltd.

Patna

Neotia Institute of Technology, Management and Science

24-Pargans(S) (W.Bengal)

Maritime Education Training & Research Institute

24-Pargans(S) (W. Bengal)

Trident College of Marine Technology

24-Pargans(S) (W.Bengal)

School of Higher Academic and Professional Education

Panchkula (Harayana)

Indian Maritime University [Karaikal Campus]

Pundechery

Pondicherry Maritime Academy

Puducherry

Sri Chakra Maritime College

Puducherry

Marine Officers Training Academy

Pondicherry

RVS College of Maritime Science and Engineering

Pondicherry

Sai Ram Shipping Science Institute

Pondicherry

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Govt. Polytechnique

Port Blair

Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies

Pune

Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education & Training

Pune

Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies

Pune

Tolani Maritime Institute

Pune

Vishwakarma Maritime Institute

Pune

Commander Ali's Academy of Merchant Navy

Secunderabad

Commander Ali's Academy of Merchant Navy

Medak

Srivenkateshwara College of Engineering

Sriperumbadur (Tamilnadu)

Columbus Maritime Training Institute

Thane

Baba Marine Institute

Thane

Mariner's Academy

Thane

Tamil Nadu Maritime Academy

Thoothukudi

PSN College of Engineering & Technology

Tirunelveli (T.Nadu)

Maritime Training Institute [SCI] Tuticorin Campus

Tuticorin

Asha International Institute of Marine Technology

Varanasi

Sri Nandhanam Maritime Academy

Vellore (Tamil Nadu)

Praveenya Institute of Marine Engineering & Maritime Studies

Visakhapatnam (AP)

National Ship Design & Research Centre

Vizianagaram (AP)

Sailors Maritime Academy

Vizianagaram (AP)



About author
Mr.Sandeep is a sceptic mechanical and marine engineer who sees the world through the modern technology which provided the scope to unveil the unlimited knowledge and wisdom inherited through generations of scientific and spiritual solutions for the betterment of the society that have been helping mankind to benefit through time. He propose new ideas and provide design for products and services,to become a part of sustained technology for good.
Published date : 01 Oct 2014 12:57PM

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