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| JOBS & CAREERS |
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Life at the sea
How to retain talent
ON MY OWN
Course Chat
Soaring heights for civil engineers
Happiness @ work
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Life at the sea
The merchant navy is a commercial fleet which deals with transporting cargo and sometimes passengers, by sea from one part of the world to another. Its fleet includes cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, oil tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerator ships as well as passenger ships. The ships may belong to Indian or foreign shipping companies and are highly sophisticated and technology intensive. And while life in the merchant navy may be full of fun and adventure, it is also hard work that requires a high level of professional ability and competence and the knowledge of navigation, maintenance and safe operation of a variety of vessels, which travel long distances across the seas.
Areas of activity There are three main areas of activity within the merchant navy — the deck, the engine and the service department. The deck officers which include the captain, chief officer, second officer, third officer and other junior officers are responsible for navigating the ship, and the efficient loading and unloading of cargo. They have to control a large number of seamen and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The chief navigator of the ship is the captain, who decides the course of the voyage and manoeuvres the vessel under adverse weather conditions and emergencies. The engine department consists of the chief engineer, radio officer, electrical officer and junior engineers who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of all installations, including electrical and refrigerating machinery, the main engines, auxiliary machinery and safety equipment. They also supervise repairs at sea and overhauls in ports. The radio officers operate and maintain the wireless equipment for receiving and transmitting messages. The service department handles the maintenance of living and catering services for officers and crew on board a ship, managing the kitchen, laundry, medical and other services. Besides these main areas of activity, there are divers for underwater examination of the ship, nautical surveyors who prepare topographical charts of particular regions of the sea, and, light keepers who operate signalling equipment to guide the passage of ships, and so on. In addition to officers in the merchant navy, there are non-officer level ratings taken on for work on deck, engine room and catering. The deck rating is responsible for cargo handling, mooring/ unmooring and general maintenance of the ship. Similarly, the engine room ratings assist the engineering officers in maintenance and operation of engines and associated equipment, while the catering crew consists of steward/cooks who look after the catering and the house keeping of officers’ cabin. Getting in You can join the merchant navy directly after B.Sc in nautical science or a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or marine engineering, or even directly after 10+2. For all these courses, you need to have 55 per cent aggregate (60 per cent in the subjects of physics, chemistry and mathematics and 50 per cent in the subject of English). There are several institutions for training for the merchant navy, including four government training institutes providing pre-sea and post-sea training of international standards. It is also possible to join the merchant navy directly after school, by applying for recruitment by shipping firms/lines, who train you on board ship for a marine career. Minimum eligibility to apply for deck cadets is a pass in plus two or equivalent examination with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Some shipping companies select deck cadets through a written examination in physics, chemistry and mathematics followed by a personal interview. After a minimum of three years on-the-job training, a deck cadet has to clear the Third Mate's exam conducted by the DGS (Directorate General Shipping) Ministry of Surface Transport. For a job in the merchant navy you should also be mentally and physically fit, and be within 20 years of age (25 years for SC/ST candidates). A career in the merchant Navy also requires great mental and physical stamina, intelligence, and a scientific temper to go along with a cheerful disposition and team work skills. Navigators should have perfect eyesight, whereas marine engineers are allowed to wear spectacles for eyesight up to plus/minus 2.5, but colour blindness is a disqualification for the merchant navy. After completing the three-year nautical science programme and acquiring the certificate of competency of second mate you can join an Indian or international shipping company as third/second officer on board a merchant ship. After several years of service and completion of higher examinations, namely, first mate ((FG) and master (FG), you can get the certificate of competency as master (FG) which entitles an officer to become the captain of a merchant ship. A marine engineer is taken in as a junior engineer officer on a merchant ship. Junior engineer officers also need to complete several years of work and the requisite examinations, to be posted as third engineer, second engineer and ultimately chief engineer of a merchant ship. The competence examinations for navigating officers and for the marine engineers are conducted by the Ministry of Surface Transport through the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Mumbai. In addition to officers, you can also join the merchant navy as a rating on board ship. The minimum qualification for rating is 10th standard with maths and science and the age limit is less than 24½ years at the commencement of the course. After completing the course, the trainees are required to go on ship for a minimum of 6 months to earn their watch-keeping certificate. After obtaining the watch-keeping certificate, they can sail on any ship as rating for deck/engine room/saloon/petty officers. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is among the top choices for merchant navy jobs in India. Great Eastern Shipping Company, Indus Cruising and Shipping and NYK Ship Management are other companies in India that provide merchant navy jobs to freshers in India. Job prospects The merchant navy offers bright prospects with starting salaries of around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per month, or 1,500 to 2,000 US $ in a foreign shipping company. Pay and perks differ from company to company, but every officer and crew of the merchant navy working on board a vessel which is carrying foreign cargo is entitled to draw 75 per cent of his net earning in foreign exchange. This is a major privilege and a vital perk of this profession. In addition to the hefty pay and allowances, both officers and the crew receive free meals on board. They are also entitled to a four-month leave every year. The work in the merchant navy offers a lot of challenge although life on board a ship can be monotonous and lonely. But most modern ships are built with every convenience to minimise the tedium. There are spacious lounges, TV rooms, a range of recreational facilities, and comfortable family accommodation for senior officers who can bring along their families. Moreover, after long voyages, officers are given long leave to spend time with their families. While women are encouraged to join the merchant navy, so far there are limited opportunities for women mostly as ship’s doctors and radio officers. But for all young men who dislike a 9 to 5 job and enjoy a sense of adventure, while being paid handsomely for it, this is the ideal career to be in.
Institutes n
TS (Training Ship) Chanakya, Mumbai, which conducts a 3-year degree course in nautical science under the aegis of the University of Mumbai. It also holds pre-sea courses for cadets who are sponsored directly by the shipping companies, before they join their ships for their initial sea training. n
The Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI) in Kolkata n
The Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI) Mumbai, which offers 4-year training in marine engineering. Admission to all these courses is open to unmarried Indian male and female students and conducted through the common entrance examination of IIT-JEE. n
Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai offers a comprehensive range of courses for merchant navy officers. n
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, which offers the B. Sc (nautical science) programme through selected training institutes approved by DGS and
IGNOU. n Tolani Maritime Institute, Sharada Centre 11/1 off Karve Road, Brandywine, Pune-411004 n
International Maritime Institute, 13 Institutional Areas, (Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar), Greater Noida, Surajpur Kasna Road, UP. n
Academy of Maritime Education and Training, 3/4/5Ambedkar Street, Gandhinagar, Saligramam, Chennai 600093. n
National Institute of Port Management, East Coast Road, Uthandi, Chennai 600096 n
Vel's College of Maritime Studies, PV Vaithiyalingam Road, P.allavaram, Chennai 600 117 (affiliated to Madras University)
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Role of Company Secretary
A. A qualified Company Secretary (CS) can look for opportunities in the private and public sectors, financial institutions, banks, stock exchanges and even the Central Company Law Service. As you must perhaps be aware, Company Secretaries are also recognised by the government for appointment to superior posts. CS is one of the essential qualifications for recruitment to Grade I to IV in the accounts branch of the Company Law Service of the Department of Company Affairs. As a CS you are trained to double up as an in-house legal expert as well as a business manager capable of performing multiple functions, including taxation, finance, accounts, HRD, corporate law, commercial and general administration. In the present corporate environment, you can also function as a corporate development planner involved in identifying expansion opportunities, arranging collaborations, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. If you’re interested in working in the banking sector, finance, accounts, law and merchant banking are the portfolios you can target. MBA and law are two most popular higher study options chosen by CS professional to bolster their credentials. The first-year curriculum of an MBA programme covers the basic functional areas of finance and accounting, marketing, personnel and operations management. You will also learn the basic principles of economics, behavioural sciences, information technology and quantitative methods in the context of business management. This will lay the foundation for choosing your specialisation. Given the role and ambit within which a CS functions in a corporate organisation, specialisations such as general management and finance would be better options. However, choose a specialisation based on your comfort level and interest in a particular area rather than follow a given "formula".
Brush up your basics before interview
A. First of all, decide whether you wish to go for a job in your particular branch of engineering or for a software job as is increasingly the case even in the top engineering colleges. This is particularly significant for those in electrical, electronics, civil and mechanical engineering. If you're double-minded, you'll have to prepare and apply for both types of jobs. There are a fair number of jobs in technical companies. Information about jobs in government undertakings like
BHEL, NTPC, DRDO etc. can be found in Employment News. However, some of these companies ask for 70%+ marks in B. Tech. Tests for jobs in technical fields definitely require you to have thorough knowledge of the major subjects of your branch. So, make sure you have brushed up your fundas. You can also post your CV on jobsites like www.timesjobs.com, www.naukri.com or www.monsterindia.com specifying your field of interest etc. The other option is to take the GATE and pursue a Master's degree in your area of interest to upgrade your qualifications — particularly, if you wish to go into R&D or academics. For software/hardware jobs, learn your C/C++. "Object-oriented programming in Turbo C++" by Robert Laffore and "Let us C" are popular with beginners. Plenty of advanced level text books are also available. Those interested in networking/VLSI etc. will have to be thorough in those areas. Many students also manage to pack in some Java in between their 3rd and 4th year. If you want to improve your skills for the written tests, go through Maths books by RS Aggarwal & Summers/ Shakuntala Devi's Maths Puzzles (Orient Paperbacks) thoroughly. Don't worry too much about the GD. Software companies essentially want people with logical/analytical skills, although good communication skills are always a great asset. If you are good at programming then you are the guy they are looking for. You only have to show that in the interview. Do not let the panel spend too much time on the extra-curricular stuff. Try to bring the discussion around to your area of strength e.g. your summer project, your paper presentations, subjects you like etc. On the other hand, if you are looking at the MBA option, then you do need to prepare for GD/interview properly. Don't keep waiting for your turn to start speaking in the GD. Try to initiate/conclude the GD if possible. IT is presently on a roll. Many of the leading software companies like TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, Patni hold walk-ins all over India. Log onto the "Career" section on their respective websites. Just keep your eyes open for any opportunity you can spot. Good luck!
Immigration rules for working women in Gulf
A. Indian Missions have been receiving complaints from women workers, particularly housemaids regarding non-payment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living conditions, physical harassment and refusal of leave. To protect them from harassment and exploitation, the government has now tightened the immigration rules for women seeking employment in the labour-intensive Gulf region. The series of measures include imposing an age limit of 30 years for permitting them to go to the Gulf region and some other countries for employment under ECR (Emigration Check Required) category. Attestation of the employment contract of women under ECR category by Indian missions has also been made mandatory. The missions will also have to identify the foreign employer before allowing any woman to go the region for work. As per the ministry's guidelines, the employer must give a pre-paid mobile phone to every household worker. A foreign employer recruiting a worker directly has to deposit a security of $2,500 (Rs 1.3 lakh) with the Indian Mission. As per the rules, ECR clearance is mandatory for undergraduates seeking overseas employment in 17 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon and Thailand. The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com
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How to retain talent
Research has established that productive employees hate monotony. To retain productive employees, organisations should allow their employees to pursue their goals by trying some new things. Intelligent managers allow more freedom to try out new ways to perform tasks and to achieve the set targets which provide mental satisfaction and confidence to high potentials. In order to retain good employees, good organisations always create an opportunity to listen. But beware! Never listen to him in a casual manner. Listen to him with rapt attention. When he speaks out his mind to you, he also feels a sense of relief as his pent up energies are released. Inter-departmental transfer is another strategy which many companies use to keep their high-potential employees motivated. —The writer is a psychologist and a career expert
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ON MY OWN
Shah is involved deeply into designing and developing educational content that has reached almost 2 lakh students spread across government and private institutions all over the country. "We have trained more than 2000 teachers so far Computer Masti is also now available in eight Indian and two foreign languages", says this entrepreneur who is a role model for youngsters with a passion for being their own boss. Excerpts from an interview: What made you decide to start your own enterprise rather than go for a high-paying regular job? I felt that going for a high-pay job (which I didn’t like or had less knowledge about) that I was offered was like giving stuffs a momentary solution. I had immense pressure from my family to take up the job, but then I realised that two-three years of instability in such a long life will hardly make a difference. I was working on affordable technologies and solutions with IIT Bombay. Since I couldn’t see anyone doing a relevant job, I thought its better to start on my own. When I started, I didn’t know that a word called ‘start-up’ existed. Till date I get the spelling of ‘entrepreneurship’ wrong. I felt that if I am able to build a support and sales services around my research, it would be nice. Nice, primarily because it would help many students and help build synergies like jobs, consortiums and so forth and so on. Do you find the current social as well as professional environment more conducive for entrepreneurship as the number of people preferring to go on their own is increasing steadily? Well, the current social and professional environment is definitely more conducive for starting ventures. You can easily get advice on Business Modeling, you know the VCs and you can also create uproar on the social media if you are doing an awesome job. Every day someone from university or through my network is taking a plunge. I get lots of email seeking advice. However, I feel that’s a problematic area too. People just want to start a ‘company’ without feeling very strongly about its need. Lots of people don’t even have an idea if you question them deeply related to their ‘Idea.' Most of them are working professionals or university fellows. Most of them these days are fascinated by the ‘valuations’ offered. People ask me how excellent is their idea and I tell them idea is just 5 per cent and they should not go ahead unless they believe in it completely. I tell them that relationship with a start-up is like marriage and not a college fling. What were the challenges in the initial days? In the initial days it was like me going to schools and trying to get the feedback as well as pitch the same to them. I have personally interacted with over 500 schools. We got some 2,000 students (across eight schools) in our first year of operations. We try (and still do) to solve every query which our client has and make sure it gets solved in fastest time possible. The initial challenges were mostly office space and low cash flow for salaries and operations. I cramped 25 people in 300 sqft area of office space. Today we have more than 2 lakh students (schools and government). We have offices now in Mumbai and Hyderabad. New Offices in Chennai and Cochin and Jaipur are coming up. With most of the startups being either consultancy or outsourcing services, why did you get into something like taking computer education to children, which seems more like a government scheme? When we started the venture we truly didn’t think about how unique our idea was. The whole idea to use computers to develop logical thinking in a child is what excited us. Computers have become quintessential objects in everybody’s home and for the remaining government(s) are working towards it. We were neither a revolutionary idea nor were we creating a market. We wanted to be perceived as one of the best content generation company. We felt that lot of educational companies were trying to sell hardware to schools (Interactive White Boards, jazzy tabs and so on), and there was very little development on the content side. Technology is just an extension to the content and not the other way round. We soon realised that it was a hot market and we have been right in our judgement. Today we are venturing into other subjects. What are your future plans for your venture? Launch CM 2.0(A.comprehensive web-based learning experience which will use the power of CM tutorial logic, software’s and assessment under one single platform.) Bring the same learning experience on web by combining learning, practice and assessment on the same page. We wish to open company operated centers for teacher and student learning activities. Generate e-content for new generation smart-phones and tablets. To establish bench marks for school teachers which should empower them with a holistic training thereby creating an impact on the entire teacher intake process by schools. — As told to Geetu Vaid
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Course Chat
Diploma in Training and development offered by the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD) is aimed at meeting the long-felt need for a basic qualification in training and development. This correspondence course of 18-month duration is the only professional course recognised by Government of India for training of trainers and is designed to meet today’s training/HRD challenges.
Who should join The programme is well suited for HRD/training professionals and others who seek a strategic understanding of the human resources management function. It also helps prepare line managers/professionals from other functions to orient themselves as facilitators of learning processes or also to move into training field as faculty members. Eligibility Graduate or it’s equivalent diploma from a recognised university plus minimum two years of work experience as an executive, faculty, administrator, supervisor, manager. Postgraduate or equivalent PG Diploma in any discipline (experience not essential). Professional degree holder like B.E/B.Tech., MBBS, BPT, BPeh, CAIB, ACA, AICWA, M.Ed., etc, (Experience not essential). M.Tech., MBA & PGD students of final semester awaiting for final result can also apply. OR Armed Forces officers who have successfully undergone course at NDA/IMA/TA/Air Force Academy/ Indian Naval Academy and have a minimum of two years working experience. Admission Admission to the programme is made twice a year - January and July. Prospectus-cum-admission form can be obtained by sending a crossed demand draft/mo for Rs 300 in favour of ISTD Diploma Programme, payable at New Delhi. Admission form can also be downloaded from islddiploma.prg. Fee Prospectus fee Rs 300; Registration fee (non refundable) - Rs 500; Course fee for general category) Rs 25,000; for other category (armed forces officer, central/state/police/para military forces officer, SC/ST and Senior Citizen candidates) Rs 20,000. Last date for submission of
completed admission form: May 31 for July batch. — TNS
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Soaring heights for civil engineers
Considering the massive landmass that our country is, the scope of infrastructure in various forms viz. roads and highways, flyovers, rails and metro lines, ports and airports, toll plazas/booths etc. is immense. The sector that had been lagging behind for years now looks promising as its engines of growth are being fuelled by the emerging demands of the world's second-fastest growing economy. Indian economy has undergone fundamental changes over the last decade. The strong level of economic growth achieved in the country off late has led to an expansion of industry, commerce and per capita income. This, in turn, has resulted in the growth of infrastructure services, including energy, transportation, telecom, water supply and urban infrastructure. Needless to say, there will be upcoming a lot of structuring opportunities in our country that will create a huge demand for civil engineers. The investment in infrastructure, at home, has increased from 4.9 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002-03 to 7.18 per cent in 2008-09. It is expected to increase to 8.37 per cent in the final year of the 11th Plan and is likely to touch 10 per cent of the GDP in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017). In fact, as per this year’s Union Budget, India has increased spending on infrastructure by 23 per cent. The initiatives taken by the government, including opening up number of infrastructure sectors to private players, promoting investment in the sector by permitting FDI, huge spending on projects like the National Highway Development Project, National Maritime Development Programme, etc. have opened up significant opportunities for investors. Needless to say, the opportunities posed by the growing infrastructure sector for civil engineers in the coming years are many. About the course Considered as one of the oldest engineering disciplines, civil engineering involves planning, designing and executing structural works. The profession deals with an array of engineering tasks, including designing, supervision and construction activities of public works such as roads, buildings, airports, dams, bridges, tunnels, water works, ports and sewage systems. Opportunities Certainly, the stream offers a multitude of challenging career opportunities. Planning and designing a project, constructing the project to the required scale, and maintenance of the product comes under the purview of a civil engineer. The major specialisations within civil engineering are structural, water resources, environmental, construction, transportation, geo-technical engineering etc. On most projects, civil engineers work in teams or in coordination with many other engineers. Requirements To cope with the growing pressures of the industry, students of civil engineering need to develop highly specialised skills. They should possess:
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Creativity and an innovative approach to solving problems; n
Ability to analyse and interpret diverse, complex data; n
Critical thinking and ability to evaluate designs, plans and projects; n
Effective assessment and management of risk, resources and time; n
Highly developed numeracy and computer literacy; n
Interpersonal sensitivity, persuasiveness and ability to work as part of a team; n
Clear written and oral communication skills; n
Awareness of ethical issues and the wider impact of their work. Prospects The civil engineering graduates should focus on getting training on the job. Live industry projects, at internships, help the students a lot in developing some of the above-listed skills. Based on the knowledge gained through practical experience, students become worthy enough to apply for posts in the various R&D projects of companies related to infrastructure sector or can also work in consultancy of various industry organisations. They can easily find work as a supervisor of a construction site or a managerial position or in design, research, as well as, in teaching line in government services or private concerns. Lastly, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that for students of civil engineering, the future looks promising and bright. With the growing number of flyovers, bridges, roads, metros, ports, canals, dams and buildings etc. this profession is bound to experience soaring heights. — The writer is General Secretary, Modern Institute of Engineering &
Technology, Ambala
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Happiness @ work
Even after Rabindranath Tagore had written songs that later became the national anthems of India and Bangladesh and “Gitanjali”, his critics thought his Bangla wasn’t Bangla enough. Even the proposal of Sir Asutosh Mukherji, Vice Chancellor, Calcutta University, to confer an honorary D.Litt on him was opposed. All this ended in extreme adulation when on November 15, 1912, he got the Nobel Prize for literature. The moment robber Angulimala was born, a strange light flashed on all weapons in Kosala kingdom. An astrologer predicted that the boy would become a highwayman. Garga, the boy’s father, pleaded to King Prasenajit to kill the newborn. The king refused. Years later, when the boy fulfilled his destiny, the same king led his army in order to kill Angulimala, but mercifully, Buddha had converted the robber into a monk. For long, Prof Oten at the Presidency College, Calcutta, believed that Indians had sawdust in their brains. This led to Subhas Chandra Bose and his friends assaulting him. As expected, Bose was rusticated. He joined Scottish Church College and joined its University Training Corps. One day, Oten, who had become Director of Public Instruction, Bengal, by then, came on an inspection. On seeing how good Bose was, he offered him a non-commissioned officer’s post in the corps. The Kalinga War changed warmonger Asoka, who killed numerous soldiers along with his 100 brothers, to a peace-loving Emperor, who let go even of his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to serve the Sangha. While their hard work at the desolate Khandavvan resulted in the Pandavas having an enviable kingdom in Indraprastha, Yudhisthira’s addiction for dice made them spent 13 years in exile. After making such a huge effort in getting celestial weapons from Shiva and Indra and then gathering a huge army, Arjuna refused to fight when the battle lines were drawn. “Would it be better that I become an alms-seeker or a scholar instead?” he asked Krishna in the Gita. Vasanti, the princess of Varanasi, shooed away her husband Kalidasa as he was just a cowherd. She became willing to accept him as her husband when he became a scholar, but Kalidasa only wanted to look to her as his guru. So she cursed him that he would die at the hands of a woman. Years later, Kalidasa was killed by a dancer in the court of Lanka. The only life-bearing celestial body in the universe — the Earth — supports life because it is neither too close nor too far from the sun. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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The merchant navy is a commercial fleet which deals with transporting cargo and sometimes passengers, by sea from one part of the world to another. Its fleet includes cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, oil tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerator ships as well as passenger ships. The ships may belong to Indian or foreign shipping companies and are highly sophisticated and technology intensive.
Q. I am a student pursuing Company Secretary course. Which field in MBA should I specialise in to boost my career?
— Kalol Bissa
Q. I have completed B.Tech from Jalandhar and at present searching for a job. There are very few openings for freshers during campus placements. Please tell me how I should approach for jobs in software and hardware companies. Should I opt for any supportive course?
— Ranveer Mehta
Q. Our gardener’s widowed sister wants to go to the Gulf for work. Is it safe to send her? We want to help her but are a little confused. Please advise.
— Garima Vadhera
A recent trend among really productive employees is emerging. They intend to leave the job in hand on finding any better opportunity. Retaining employees is also an important part of the management of an organisation as new hiring never comes cheap.
Facilitating education is not a business but it is a very rewarding career". This is the nuance which served as the guiding light for 25-year-old computer science engineer and an alumnus of IIM, Calcutta Rupesh Shah who ventured on "the road less taken" by starting his own venture rather than getting into a 16-hour grind at some MNC after completing his graduation. His passion lies in leveraging Open Source based content and technology for education. His keen interest and deep knowledge of Open Source and the desire to contribute to the education domain led to germination of InOpen Technologies Pvt Ltd in 2009. The company has successfully created a fun and game based computer learning experience through interactive learning programmes like Computer Masti.
Sprawling jungles of steel, cement, engineers and workers on site… be it an upcoming Metro station or a flyover in construction, one look at your surroundings is enough to drive the message home that Indian infrastructure industry is certainly gaining grounds.
As we rarely put our wisdom to use, humans generally oscillate from one extreme to another. Remember, the optimum route is somewhere in the middle.