The merchant navy is the term for global commercial shipping industry which comprises of many types of vessels and private companies.
It is responsible for transportation of cargo from one place to another. For Ex. 1000 containers (40 foot) from India to Brazil. For carrying such a cargo through waterways, specialized vessels must be designed in such a manner that the cargo is transported safely. Therefore, considering all factors required for the safe navigation of ship from one place to another, a ship is built.
A Vessel is just a medium used for transportation and requires regular maintenance and watchkeeping. There comes the role of merchant navy officers and crew.
The merchant navy is different from state navy. The state navy is the armed wing of a state which has vessels to protect and guard the state whereas the merchant navy is a non-armed international body which has vessels to transport cargo.
It is a myth that the merchant navy guys live away from home for 6 months and at home for 6 months. The fact is that the salary in merchant navy is non-taxable in India if the seafarer is on the vessel for 182 or more days in a financial year. Therefore, to save taxes, most seafarers do a minimum of 6 months in a financial year. In higher officer ranks, even 3 months contracts are given. Moreover, the salary comes only when the seafarer is onboard and not on vacations. Nevertheless, making enough money to not work and earn for months is not a big deal if it’s the merchant navy.
There are different types of cargo which needs to be transported. Broadly classifying, there are dry cargo and liquid cargo. The salary difference and more hardship come with more delicate/hazardous cargo the vessel is carrying. Therefore, dry cargo ships have less hardship, low pay scale & more fun and liquid cargo ships have more hardship, high pay scale & less fun.
The salary is always credited in dollars and is as per the market demands and thus is varying. The monthly salary on dry cargo ship ranges from 3000 $ to 10,000 $ for officer ranks and 500$ to 2500$ for general purpose crew ranks whereas the monthly salary on liquid cargo ship ranges from 3000$ to 17,000$ for officer ranks and 500$ to 3000$ in general purpose crew ranks.
Departments in Merchant Navy
The vessel’s main objective is to transport cargo from one place to another.
A ship requires personnels who can navigate the ship, keep the cargo safe & make sure that the water is not polluted. These personnels are called Navigating Officers.
Officer Ranks in Deck Department: Deck Cadet à 3rd Officer à 2nd Officer à Chief Officer à Master
A vessel also requires personnels who can make sure that the vessel’s engine, complex machineries, and power supply is in good condition for the voyage. These personnels are called Engine Officers.
Officer Rank in Engine Department: Engine Cadet à 4th Engineer à 3rd Engineer à 2nd Engineer à Chief Engineer
Since, the work includes hectic schedules and large machineries, helping hands are a great boon to the officers and thus both the Deck and Engine departments have some General-Purpose Rating ranks who help the officers in daily chaos of the vessel.
Rating Ranks in Deck Department: Trainee Ordinary Seamen à Ordinary Seamen à Able Bodied Seamen à Bosun
Rating Ranks in Engine Department: Trainee Wiper à Wiper à Motorman
Some additional ranks are also there serving different purposes and is hired as required in the vessel:
- Electro-Technical Officer
- Trainee Electro-Technical Officer
- Deck Fitter
- Engine Fitter
- Pumpman
In addition to the operational and technical departments, there is also a galley department which ensures that the crew has their basic amenities like food, cleaning services, laundry services, etc.
Ranks in Galley Department: Trainee General Steward à General Steward à 2nd Cook à Chief Cook
The above mentioned is basic structure of crew onboard.
Although, a vessel may have more technical/operational rank personnels onboard as required by the vessel and sea such as Armed Guards (for high risky area of piracy), Refrigerated Container Technicians (For maintenance of REEFERS), etc.
FACT: On an average, there are only 22 crew onboard including all the ranks mentioned above.
Pay Scale and Perks
Merchant Navy is well known for the high pay scale and tax-free salary. There are various terms and condition for the same which must be fulfilled by the seafarer. One of the conditions for the income to be tax-free is completing a sea time for 182 days in one financial year.
The Salary scale depends on:
1. Type of Vessel
2. Experience in the Rank
The monthly pay scale as per rank are as follows:
| Per Rank | Name | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Captain/ Chief Engineer: | 10,000 $ – 17,000 $ |
| 2 | Chief Officer/2nd Engineer: | 6,000 $ – 10,000 $ |
| 3 | 2nd Officer/3rd Engineer: | 4,000 $ – 5,000 $ |
| 4 | 3rd Officer/4th Engineer: | 2,500 $ – 3,000 $ |
| 5 | Tr. ETO and ETO: | 3000 $ – 5500 $ |
| 6 | D. CDT. / TME: | 400 $ – 800 $ |
| 7 | Bosun | 1,500 $ – 1,900 $ + OVERTIME |
| 8 | AB/Motorman: | 1,200 $ – 1,600 $ + OVERTIME |
| 9 | OS/Wiper: | 700 $ – 1,200 $ + OVERTIME |
| 10 | Tr. OS/Tr. Wiper: | 200 $ to 450 $ |
| 11 | 2nd Cook/Chief Cook | 1600 $ – 2500 $ + OVERTIME |
| 12 | Tr. GS/GS: | 1,000 $ – 1500 $ + OVERTIME |
It is a myth that merchant navy officers/crew must compulsorily live 6 months (182 days) away from home and then jobless for the other 6 months. The officer/crew stays onboard for a minimum 182 days for tax free income in one financial year. If they wish, then can work for more than 182 days and still get the income tax free but if they decide to quit sea without completing 182 days in a financial year, the income is taxable at the year end.
Note: The sea time of 182 days could be completed by doing 3-3 months contract. The Shipping company only gives short contracts to only senior officers and thus G.P. Rating ranks have no such choices.
Unlike Indian Navy, there is no canteen services for Merchant Navy Officers/Crew in India. However, all the basic ammonites to carry out life is provided for free at sea which include personal cabin & bathroom, electricity, fresh water, food, indoor and outdoor recreational activities, internet, work cloths, etc.
Moreover, for embarkation/disembarkation to or from the vessel, all the expenses which includes visa, travelling, hotel-stay, etc. are paid by the shipping company for all ranks.
How to join Merchant Navy
Navigating Officer
Navigating Officers or Deck Officers are responsible for safe navigation of the vessel, safety of life & cargo and prevention of marine pollution.
There are two applicable courses to join as a Navigating Officer:
- Diploma in Nautical Science leading to BSc. Nautical Science is a one-year degree course before joining the vessel of 18 months followed by a few courses and oral examination to be awarded with a degree of Bachelors in Applied Nautical Science. Further, the cadet can join a vessel as a 3rd Officer.
- Bachelors in Nautical Science is a three-years degree course after which a degree of Bachelors in Nautical Science is awarded. Once the course is complete, the cadet has to complete a sea-time of 12 months. Furthermore, he must appear for some exams and orals to join a vessel as a 3rd Officer.
Both DNS and BSc. NS. courses lead to 3rd officer in/around 5-5.5 years.
DNS is preferable over BSc. Nautical Science for various reasons.
To be eligible in DNS/BSc. Nautical Science, the minimum qualification is same as the qualification of IMU-CET.
IMU-CET is mandatory for admission in both the courses. If any institutes promise for admission without IMU-CET, one must recheck the authenticity of the institute as they may spoil their carrier before even it starts.
Minimum Eligibility
- IMU-CET QUALIFIED
- 12th PCM % >= 60
- 10th or 12th English % >= 50
- Age before commencement of course >= 17
- Valid Passport in-hand before course commencement
- Vision Should be 6/6 without aids. Vision correction methods like Contura Vision and LASIK is allowed.
- Colour Blindness is not permitted. P.S. If 12th result is obtained after improvement examination, the board should be same as of the 1st time.
Engineering Officer
Engineering Officers are responsible for ensure that the vessel’s engine, complex machineries, and power supply is in good condition for the voyage.
The following are the ways to join as an Engineering officer:
1. B.Tech. Marine Engineering: B.Tech. ME is a under graduate course offered by Indian Maritime University and other Maritime university like AMET which is a four-year engineering course to join as a Trainer Marine Engineer (TME). There are a few companies like ESM, MSC, MAERSK, V-Ships, etc. which gives sponsorship and thus is preferable. If one joins any institute without sponsorship, he/she should ensure that the placement rate of the institute is good. Without sponsorship, one must prefer colleges like, Tolani Maritime Institute, International Maritime Institute & IMU Kolkata.
Minimum Eligibility
- IMU-CET QUALIFIED
- 12th PCM % >= 60
- 10th or 12th English % >= 50
- Age before commencement of course >= 17
- Valid Passport in-hand before course commencement
- Vision Should be 6/6 without aids. Vision correction methods like Contura Vision and LASIK is allowed.
Colour Blindness is not permitted.
P.S. If 12th result is obtained after improvement examination, the board should be same as of the 1st time.
2. B.Tech. Marine Engineering (Lateral Entry in 2nd Year: While doing B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from any recognized engineering college, if anyone feels to change the stream to B.Tech. Marine, they can easily do so without appearing for IMU-CET. Colleges like International Maritime Institute, Noida & IMU Kolkata releases their application for the same. It is same as B.Tech. in Marine Engineering and can be considered as a wild card entry.
Minimum Eligibility
Candidate should have passed Diploma in Mechanical Engineering / Diploma in Marine Engineering / Electrical / Electronic & Electrical from any Government Approved institution with at least 60% marks overall and should have completed the Diploma within the stipulated period of 3 years.
Or
First year from the Engineering College in the other streams like Mechanical or Electrical approved by AICTE with minimum 60% average marks
The Candidates should have secured 50% marks in English in 10th /12th Standard or in Diploma awarded.
3. Graduate in Marine Engineering (GME): GME is a one-year pre sea training course approved by DG of Shipping. The course consists of an 8-month long class room (pre-sea) training and a 4 month long onboard training where the cadet is entitled to stipend, free boarding, and lodging. For being eligible for GME course, a candidate must complete his b.tech. in Mechanical Engineering from a UGC recognised university. Colleges like Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy, Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies, Seven Islands Institute of Maritime Studies, etc. which provides pre-sea training in their institute and sends the candidate for onboard training in their company vessel. Some college like International Maritime Academy, Tolani Maritime Institute does not have their own company and thus invites company for placements during the pre-sea training.
P.S. For Engine side, distance vision unaided 0.5 (6/12) in each eye or 0.67(6/9) in better eye and 0.33 (6/18) in other eye. Colour blindness in not permitted.
Deck/Engine Crew
1. General Purpose Rating (GP Rating): Deck crew must undergo a pre sea course of 6 months followed by onboard training. The GP Rating course is one of the most demanded courses as it has minimum eligibility of 10th pass and gives a way into a profession as esteemed at the Merchant navy.
Nevertheless, with demand comes the frauds and agents which comes to play in the industry who won’t even give a 2nd thought before taking away the candidate’s future as well as their parents hard earned money.
Frauds like, “Open CDC”, “GP Rating course from a non-DG Approved college”, “ No Campus placement even in DG Approved colleges”, etc.
One must be cautious while choosing GP rating course as the ship will only be allotted for the onboard training either if the candidate is placed in a reputed company or have blood relation references in any of the reputed companies.
For those who want to get in the Merchant navy through regular ways and do not have any references in the merchant navy should prefer doing courses from colleges that guarantee a vessel for onboard training.
A college which has it’s own company guarantees the onboard training. The colleges are as follows:
- Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies, Lonavala
- Seven Islands Institute of Maritime Studies, Mumbai
- Shipping Corporation of India – Maritime Training Institute, Chennai
A college which does not have its own company but is reputed all around India is a good choice too. The thing to be kept in mind is that unlike the above-mentioned colleges, they cannot guarantee you a ship for onboard training.
How to get the ship then? Campus placement (If any company visits), References or Genuine Paid Agents.
The colleges are:
1. T.S. Rahaman, Navi Mumbai
2. National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), GOA
Minimum Eligibility:
Edu. Qualifications-
10th standard pass fromgovernment recognized board with subjects English, Mathematics & Science with 40% aggregate.English 40% in 10th/12th.
OR12th standard (any stream) bpass from government recognized board with 40% aggregate.
English 40% at 10th or 12th but with subjects English, Mathematics & Science at 10th.OR
Pass in 2 Year ITI course approved by DVET; with minimum 40% aggregate marks in final year of ITI & minimum 40% in
English in 10th / 12th. Minimum 40% in English in 10th or 12th, or in Diploma or Degree.
Minimum 50% in English if passed from vernacular medium.
Age: Between 18 years to 25 years before entry in training (On 1st January or 1st July)
Physical and Medical Requirements:
Height: 158 cm Minimum
BMI: 18 Minimum
BMI: 25 Maximum
Normal colour and field of vision.
No squint. No eye disease.
Distance Vision: [Unaided] 6/6 in better eye and 6/9 in other eye.
No speech impairment (disorder)
Compulsory Document before joining:
1. Passport
a) Compulsory at the time of application.
b) Valid up to at least 2 years after completion of course.
c) Passport should have surname and given name.
d) Passport should not bear “ECR REQUIRED” Endorsement.
e) Name and DOB on passport and marksheet should be same.
P.S. The Eligibility of colleges may differ and must be confirmed from their official websites.
For Ex. Some Colleges require ITI as their minimum eligibility after class 10th. One must comply to it before applying for the institute.
ITI trades: 1. Fitter 2. Machinist 3. Marine Fitter 4. Motor Mechanic 5. Turner 6. Vessel Navigator 7. Instrument Mechanic 8. Electronic Mechanic 9. Electrician 10. Mechanic Industrial Electronics 11. Mechanic A/C 12. Mechanic Motor Vehicle 13. Mechanical Draughtsman 14. Welder
