Water transportation

✰ Do you want to travel around the world through water ways and make it a career with an attractive salary… then, Maritime/ Merchant Navy courses provide an opportunity to reach your goal!

✰ Those who are interested in voyages and have an interest to lead an adventurous life can opt for Diploma, B.Sc, B.Tech and Management courses in Merchant navy discipline. Most of the courses are only available to those who have completed Intermediate MPC.

✰ If you opt for Merchant's Navy career, you have to travel on water all around with no land visible to eyes for a few weeks or months every year. You should visit Foreign countries and you have to transport people and goods from there. It is a perfect career for those who are interested in voyages and want to visit Foreign countries and learn about the cultures there. Usually, when we hear about the word navy, we are reminded of patrolling the seas and attacking enemies in the seas. But there is a difference between the Navy and the Merchant Navy.

✰ The Navy is a unit of the Army and Air Force in the Indian Armed Forces. They fight the enemies who want to harm the country by sea. Their main responsibility is to patrol the maritime borders. The Indian Navy is run by the Government of India.

✰ The merchant shipping business is known as the Merchant Navy. Merchant ships are not used for military purposes. They transport large quantities of goods from one country to another. This is a specialized industry for the transportation of public and goods worldwide. Cars, Electronics, Foodstuffs, Raw materials, Oil, Coal, Iron, Wood, etc,. are transported as part of this. Merchant Navy operations are conducted under the auspices of the Merchant Maritime Company.

✰ Merchant Navy plays a key role in international trade. 90% of exports and imports are made by sea. Many professionals are working in this field. Those who want to choose this as a career will have to do relevant courses. Many leading companies offer these courses.

What are the courses?

B.Sc Nautical Science: This is a three- year course. There will be a semester‌ approach. It is accredited by the Directorate General of Shipping. Efficient operation and maintenance of ships fall under Nautical science. Qualified candidates will be trained to become Deck officers. Nautical technology and its applications are also taught in this course theoretically and practically as well. Those who have completed Intermediate MPC are eligible. To become a Deck Officer, one has to complete one year Sea service and complete the Viva based exam.

BE/ B.Tech Marine Engineering: Duration is four years. Must complete Intermediate MPC. The main focus will be on Nautical architecture and science. Design, Maintenance of Propulsion systems, Design of Steering of tankers, Submarines, Sailboats, Other Marine vessels etc,. are part of the course. Navigation, Conservation Laws, Naval Architecture, Ocean structures, Effect of waves, etc,. are the highlights.

BE Naval Architecture and Offshore engineering: A four- year course. Contains Marine Craft, Structure, Design and Construction. The course covers Physics, Hydrodynamics, Chemistry and Ship design. Those who have completed Intermediate MPC are eligible to study the course.

BE Harbour and Ocean engineering: Ports, Harbour Structure designing, Construction. The course duration is four years. Offshore oil drilling is also a part of the course. Inter MPC graduates are eligible.

B.Sc Marine Catering and Hotel management: Three- year course. Maritime Studies, Culinary Arts, Food and Beverage services, Accommodation and Facility management are taught as part of the course. Very few institutions offer these courses. Marine Hospitality management course is also available for this purpose. Anyone who has completed any Intermediate course‌ can apply for this course.

B.Sc Shipbuilding and Repair: Duration three years. Ship design, Drawing, Planning, Construction and repair are the main topics. Studies Marine engineering, Naval architecture, Material science. There will be practical lab sessions in addition to classroom teaching. Those who have completed with Inter MPC are eligible.

BBM Shipping‌: A three- year course. Business as well as shipping and logistics professionals will be covered as part of the course. Those who have completed any branch of Inter are eligible.

There are also diploma courses in B.Sc Maritime Operations, BE/ B.Tech in Applied Marine Information Technology and Communications, Petroleum and Offshore engineering, Harbour engineering and Offshore Technology.

Leading Institutions offering these courses…

How to get Admission…

Entrance Examinations: Those who want to apply for technical courses in Merchant Navy will have to write entrance examinations. Some institutes offer admissions through National Entrance Test- JEE, while some specially conduct admissions through their own admission tests.

Popular entrance exams …

✧ IMU CET‌

✧ JEE

✧ MERI Entrance Exam

✧ TMI SAT lateral Entry: Candidates who have completed 60% marks in the first year of Electrical or Mechanical engineering or have completed Diploma in Electrical, Mechanical, Marine, Shipbuilding Engineering with 60% marks are eligible for Merchant Navy in Lateral Entry. You can apply directly to programs run by maritime companies. Shipping companies offer sponsorship programs also.

Job opportunities…

✧ There are many job opportunities in this field. The Merchant Navy has Cargo, Container, Barge carrier ships, Tankers, Bulk carriers, Passenger ships, etc,. The companies that manage these huge ships need experts. They are mainly needed in the deck, engine and service sectors.

✧ Course holders are recruited for the positions of Deck officer/ Navigation officer, Electro technical officer, Engineer, Sea ferrer, Catering and Hospital officer. They are employed by domestic as well as foreign companies.

✧ Salaries vary depending on the designation, company selected, and department. Starting salary ranges from Rs. 15,000 to Rs 30,000. Salary will improve as designation and experience increase.