The Next Big Thing about Merchant Navy Colleges in India

Aside from the high salary package, the merchant navy allows you to travel worldwide. Meanwhile, you get to enjoy luxe amenities on the high seas. Merchant Navy is not the same as the navy, as it provides you with commercial services, unlike the navy that mainly aims at protecting the country.

Merchant Navy is all about conveying freight to different parts of the world. The merchant ships often employ many workers for delivering and carrying goods from one nation to another. In the absence of the merchant navy, a large part of the import-export would stop abruptly.

A career in the merchant navy is often seen as glamorous work, specifically in the young generation who is always keen on travelling the world. It provides you with a chance to visit various destinations across the globe. However, the merchant navy is not only about travelling; you also have a lot of responsibilities to fulfil.

So, if you have decided to make a career in the merchant navy, you need to look for the admission criteria for enrolling in the top merchant navy colleges in India. While the different colleges have their distinct rules for admission, there are some general criteria that you need to consider.

Eligibility Criteria

• The eligibility to join the merchant navy is to complete Class +2 with Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.
• Normal vision is essential, but glasses up to minus or plus 2.5 are also allowed.
• The candidates need to be unmarried at the time of admission.
• The admission process takes through an entrance test followed by screening and written tests.
• You even need to complete a proper ship training course before employment. This course is often short-term, where candidates learn basic security concerns while voyaging.
• After you clear the test, you need to pass a personal interview, as well as a medical test.

Joining the Merchant Navy after Class 12th

After following the given requirements and criteria, students need to apply for the courses in India’s top merchant navy colleges. You need to select the best college as per their academic reputation, your budget, their awards and recognition and placements.

Joining Merchant Navy after Class 10th

If you want to join the merchant navy soon after class 10, given below are the following courses to pursue:

• Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)
• Near Coastal Voyage (NCV)
• P. Rating
• Commercial Diving

Selection Tests for Career in Merchant Navy

For applying for specialised merchant navy courses, students have to appear for selection tests. The tests make sure that students get a specific place in prominent institutes.

Here are some well-known tests that you need to consider:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Marine Engineering (PGDME)
• IMU CET
• AIMNET (All India Merchant Navy Entrance Test)
• JEE Advanced
• TMI SAT
• MERI Entrance Exam

Merchant Navy – Job Prospects

There are various employment opportunities in the merchant navy. The candidates who complete the required course for the merchant navy may get good positions through various placement and consultant agencies. The merchant navy fleet includes container ships, cargo ships, bulk carriers, tankers, barge carrying ships, passenger ships and refrigerators ships. So, there are high chances of getting work in freight ships than others.

Merchant Navy Ranks

There are various ranks and departments in the merchant navy. Based on the field you want to pursue, you may take the course for merchant navy. Majorly, the ship officers often work in two central departments, including Engineering and Deck.

For deck officers, you can seek a job for seven positions:

• Chief Officer
• Captain
• Able seaman
• Second Officer/ Mate
• Bosun
• Deck Cadet

Engineers can seek a career in five positions, such as:

• Chief Engineer
• Third Engineer/ Second Assistant Engineer
• Second Engineer/ Assistant Engineer
• Fifth Engineer/ Fourth Assistant Engineer
• Fourth Engineer/ Third Assistant Engineer

Besides, you can look for jobs in housekeeping and catering staff.

Salary

After completing the merchant navy course, you get a good salary based on experience, position and education. Sailors in the merchant navy usually get tax-free salaries for spending 183 days in a year in international waters. If not, the salary is often taxable according to the laws of the GOI.

Here are the average salaries for different job profiles in a merchant navy:

Job Profile – Average Salary (Per Month)

Deck Cadet – INR 25,000 to 85,000

Chief Officer – INR 400,000 to 600,000

3rd Officer/ 2nd Officer – INR 150,000 to 300,000

Captain – INR 865,000 to 2,000,000

Conclusion

The merchant navy is associated with business exercises, such as travellers through different ocean courses and load transportation. Since most of the worldwide business exercises are imported and exported through the ocean routes, merchant navy graduates have ample job opportunities in different departments. To take admission to a good merchant navy college, you must complete a merchant navy course by qualifying for the mentioned examination tests. After completing the course, you will be eligible for a decent job to get a good pay package.