Summary

Summary

Merchant Navy is an ideal career choice for someone whose dream is to travel across the globe. Merchant Navy must not be confused with the Indian Navy. Indian Navyis a defence service aimed at protecting the naval territory of the country. On the other hand, Merchant navy is commercial shipping and deals in international trade and commerce. Global shipping companies run fleets of ships – oil & gas tankers, cargo/container ships, bulk carriers, ferries and cruise ships – to transport goods & passengers from one country to another. Some of the top shipping companies are Maersk, Chevron, Mobil, Wallem, Denholm, etc.

Merchant navy jobs are highly rewarding and attractive to those who wish to join. One can visit many exotic locations in the world. The salary packages can go up to ₹8 Lakh per month. Since Merchant Navy officers can get NRI status; their income can get exempted from taxes. People in this profession are required to spend long duration of time, usually 4-6 months, away from home in the high seas. Working hours are based on shift timings and can be quite strenuous during peak hours. Therefore, it is not only a career choice but also a lifestyle choice!

Career Prospects

Merchant ships are operated by a crew of experienced navigators and marine engineers. There are also on-shore marine jobs that do not involve travel and are desk-jobs concerned with administration. There are multiple managerial opportunities as well within shipping companies such as logistics, fleet coordination, training, HR, survey & supervising, etc.

  • Captain (Deck Department)
  • Ship Supervisor
  • Ship Maintenance
  • Ship Building
  • Chief Engineer (Engine Department)
  • GP Ratings((Skilled Seafarers)
  • Marine Trainer
  • Chief Cook/ Steward(Ship Catering Crew)
  • Electro-Technical Officer
  • Logistics Consultant
  • Naval Architect
  • Ship Management

Stream & Eligibility

To pursue a career in Merchant Navy, a student should clear the below given eligibility criteria*

Streams applicable (post-10th)

  • NON-MEDICAL
  • Minimum 60-70% marks in class 12th examinations with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
  • Minimum 40-60% in English is mandatory in most cases
  • Students need to take certain entrance exams such as IMU-CET, followed byscreening test and written test.
  • There may be medical and age criteria as well in certain cases.
* For specific courses, kindly refer to the respective college website for eligibility criteria and other details.

Courses/Specialization

Courses pursued for Merchant Navy are specialist courses in particular areas as given below:

Courses

  • B.Tech (Marine Engineering)
  • B.Tech (Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering)
  • B.Tech (Harbour & Ocean Engineering)
  • B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering)
  • B.Tech (Civil Engineering)
  • B.Sc. (Nautical Science)
  • B. Sc. (Ship Building & Repair)
  • B. Sc. (Applied Nautical Science)
  • B. Sc. (Maritime Science)
  • BBA (Logistics, Retailing & E-Commerce)
  • Electro Technical Officer (ETO) Course

Specialisations

  • Depending upon the job you would be taking up, specialised Ship-Training Courses are offered by different academies.

Skill set/ Interests

Persons in Merchant-Navy should possess the following skills to cope well with the requirements of the job:

  • Calm in Difficult Times
  • Team-Working Skills
  • Enthusiasm for Outdoor Life
  • Technical Know-How
  • Responsible & Quick Thinker
  • Practical & Adaptable

Major Entrance Exams

IMU CET(Indian Maritime University – All India Common Entrance Test )

Indian Maritime University

www.imu.edu.in

AIMNET(All India Merchant Navy Entrance Test)

Offshore Shipping Academy

www.aimnet.net.in

JEE Main/Advanced(Joint Entrance Examination)

Engineering Colleges – IITs, NITs, IIITs,etc

www.nta.ac.in

PERA-CET(PERA Common Entrance Test)

Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education & Training

www.manetpune.edu.in

KLMEE(KLM Entrance Exam)

Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, GOI

www.klmee.co.in

TMISAT(TMI-Science Aptitude Test)

Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)

www.tmi.tolani.edu

Top Colleges in India

The most premier institutes in India for pursuing courses in Merchant Navy are as listed below:

College / University Entrance Exam Website
Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI), Pune Based on 12th Marks www.tmi.tolani.edu
Marine Engineering and Research Institute – IMU Kolkata (earlier known as DMET) IMU CET www.merical.ac.in
IMU - Navi Mumbai (earlier known as T.S. Chanakya) IMU CET www.imunavimumbai.ac.in
C.V. Raman College of Engineering , Bhubaneswar JEE Main/ Odisha JEE www.cvrce.edu.in
Samundra Institutes Of Maritime Studies, Pune SIMS Online Test www.samundra.com
Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka CUET www.christuniversity.in
International Maritime Institute, Greater Noida IMU CET www.imi.edu.in
Vels Academy of Maritime Studies, Chennai Entrance Test www.velsmaritime.com
Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Chennai Entrance Test www.ametuniv.ac.in
Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education & Training PERA CET www.manetpune.edu.in
R.L. Institute of Nautical Sciences, Madurai IMU CET www.rlins.edu.in

Top Colleges in Himachal Pradesh

Following is a list of top colleges of Himachal Pradesh providing courses in Merchant Navy:

College / University Entrance Exam Website
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi JEE Advanced www.iitmandi.ac.in
National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur JEE Mains www.nith.ac.in
APG Shimla University, Shimla JEE Main www.agu.edu.in
Arni University, KangraJEE/ HPCETwww.arni.in
Chitkara University, Solan JEE Main www.chitkarauniversity.edu.in
Shoolini University, Solan JEE/ HPCET www.shooliniuniversity.com
Sri Sai University JEE/ HPCET www.srisaiuniversity.org

Important Facts

  • Candidates aspiring for Merchant Navy need to go through a Medical Test. There is, in most cases, a requirement for standard, 6/12 eyesight and normal colour vision
  • Before joining the ship, a candidate is required to go through certain Ship Training courses and certifications
  • For GP Rating/ Cook/ Seaman Technician roles, the eligibility criteria may be lower as 8th or 10th pass only.