Managing cargo, determining ship direction, performing ship repairs, cleaning the ships, learning about different cultures, etc. This is the main focus of a merchant navy officer's life.
For those who have the travel itch, it is an exciting and adventurous career. They get compensated to do what they enjoy most: travel. On the other hand, because they won't see their family for months, their work-life balance may suffer. They are granted vacations of 4-5 months and work for periods of 6-7 months at a time. Thus, they benefit from the best of both worlds.
Tax-Free Employment in the Merchant Navy Yes, you read that correctly. As long as you have lived outside of India for more than six months, you are exempt from paying taxes to the government. In this post, we'll go over how to enter the merchant navy, the best universities, your eligibility, and the field's potential.
Engineer and Cadet are the two main categories via which you can join the Merchant Navy.
Either a navigator or a deck cadet
As a Deck Cadet, you'll begin your career in this category, and your major duties will be maintaining and operating the ship's tanks, cargo, and other systems. They are in charge of overseeing the loading and unloading of the cargo. After gaining experience, they will advance to the positions of third officer, second officer, and eventually chief officer.
Education Needed to Join the Merchant Navy as a Cadet
You can pursue a B.Sc. in nautical science, marine science, marine catering, etc. if you want to enlist as a cadet. To pursue a career in the Merchant Navy, you should have PCM in your 12th grade year.
You must pass the IMU CET, which is administered by the Indian Maritime University. You are eligible for the B.Sc. in Nautical Science at all the colleges connected to Indian Maritime University once you pass the IMU-CET. After the entrance exam, there is a medical exam and an interview.
JEE - The JEE exam, which is administered by the IITs, is used to determine admission to a number of government colleges. JEE scores are used to determine admission to T. S. Chanakya, Marine Engineering & Research Institute in Kolkata and National Maritime Academy in Chennai. They are also required to complete the IMU paperwork.
Exams & Training to Become a Merchant Navy Cadet
Candidates complete a year of pre-sea training in the Maritime Training Institute after completing the course and before joining the ship as a Cadet. Following graduation and prior to joining the ship as a Cadet, it is a required training. It is a later graduation; it is not a part of your graduation.
The cadets are assigned to ships for training for about 18 months after completing pre-sea training. The cadets may scatter over various ships for breaks in between sessions. A 15–40k stipend is given to cadets. Following their training, individuals are qualified to take the competency test offered by the Indian government. You can join the ship as a third officer after passing this exam. Cadets advance in position with on-the-ship experience and a few exams. The longest time required to become a captain of a ship is typically 11 years.
Following their training, individuals are qualified to take the competency test offered by the Indian government. You can join the ship as a third officer after passing this exam. Cadets advance in position with on-the-ship experience and a few exams. The longest time required to become a captain of a ship is typically 11 years.
Colleges
HIMT College (Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training), Tolani Maritime Institute, Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy, Applied Research International School of Maritime Studies, Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies, etc. are colleges that offer a B.Sc. in nautical science, a B.Sc. in marine science, or a diploma in nautical science.
Other admission tests include the WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination), the CUSAT CAT (Cochin University of Science and Technology), and the TMI SAT (Tolani Maritime University).
Subjects in Class 12 that Meet the Requirements for Joining the Merchant Navy
You should receive at least a 60% in your 12th-grade science classes (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). Additionally, you must have 50% in English.
Status of Relationships
When you join, you ought to be single.
Eye sight
If you plan to major in Maritime Science, for example, you need have 6/6 vision in each eye. You will be given up to plus or minus 2.5 if you are joining B.tech (Marine Engineering). Unaided vision needs to be at least 6/12 in both eyes, or at least 6/9 in the good eye and 6/12 in the other. It is forbidden to be colour blind in any way.
Age
When you join, you must be at least 17 years old, and you cannot be more than 22 years old when you apply. You shouldn't be older than 25 or 28 if you want to join after receiving your B.Sc. or B.tech. (Varies for various roles)
Physical condition
It's important to be physically healthy to join the merchant navy. Before beginning the training, you would need a doctor's certificate.
The merchant navy's mission
The field has a wide range of potential applications, and the Merchant Navy is among the most lucrative professions. There are many distinct sorts of ships, each carrying a different kind of cargo. They can work in a field that interests them or that is available on the market.
Cadets start up making between $40k and $50k. The maintenance of the ship is often the cadet's responsibility, and they aid the officers in their work. Their pay would increase to between 90k and 1,20,000 after finishing the sea period, competency testing, and joining the ship. Similar to this, the starting salary for engineers is roughly $50,000 and can increase to $100,000 or more.
Engineers handle the technical problems and are in charge of maintaining the ship's functionality. Although the remuneration for the various companies varies, gas tankers often pay 20–30% more. They can work with a variety of cargoes, including the following:
Following completion of your studies, you can join a variety of cargos. You can pick the type of ship you want to join, however it will entirely depend on the availability of different fields.
