Be SHORE of success The Merchant Navy is a sea of opportunities for those who want to mix adventure with hard work, writes Nalini Ranjan
Sea of opportunities There are many options in the Merchant Navy. One can be employed as a navigating officer, radio officer and marine engineer. They are usually employed by the shipping companies on a contractual basis. Navigate your future The navigation officers are responsible for the navigation of a ship, loading and discharging of cargos, maintenance of ships, safety of passengers and crew members. In the Merchant Navy, the major tasks performed are in three basic areas of a ship. The deck, the engine and the Service Department. In the Deck Department, the main task is to navigate the ship properly. The captain of the ship is supposed to ensure the safe navigation of the ship. The captain of the ship is further assisted by other Deck officers. Similarly, the Engine Department is commanded by the ship engineers who ensure safe and economic running of all engines, boilers, electrical, refrigeration and sanitary equipment of the ship. Their head supervises the work of the engine room crew and is assisted by other junior engineers. The Service Department officers handle the operation and maintenance of living and catering services for officers and crew members on board. The chief steward supervises the entire operation and works with a team, which includes stewards, cooks, bakers etc. Recruitment route To be employed as a navigation officer on a merchant ship, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of competency under the regulations in force in India relating to the examinations Masters and Mates in the Merchantile Marine. Eligibility The minimum academic qualification for admission to these institutions is plus two or its equivalent degree with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Candidates for admission to Training Ship Chanakya, Mumbai, and the Marine Engineering Research Institute, Calcutta, are selected on the basis of a Joint Enterance Test (JET) conducted by the IITs. Physical fitness Candidates applying for admission to these courses are examined for physical fitness by authorised medical personnel. The candidate must be physically fit and meet the prescribed medical requirements set up by the institutions. Job prospects After completing the three-year B.Sc programme in nautical science and acquiring the certificate of competency of second mate, candidates are appointed as third and second officers on board merchant ships. For subsequent promotions, the second officers have to clear higher examinations, which are also conducted by the Ministry of Surface Transport through the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai. Thereafter, a certificate of competency as Master entitles the officer to become the captain of the ship. The merchant navy officers are paid very high salaries and the rise is exponential. But the career has its flip side also. Since you have to spend most of the time on a ship, family life is neglected.
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A career
in the merchant navy promises adventure as well as prosperity. This is
career that gives you an opportunity to see new people and places and
earn a hefty pay packet. Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial
fleet which engages in transporting cargo and, if the need arises,
people also. The Indian Merchant Navy comprises passenger vessels,
cargos, liners, tankers and other types of specialised ships. These
ships are operated by public and private shipping companies and manned
by trained navigators, marine engineers and crew. The responsibility for
adequate training of personnel for the merchant navy lies with the
Government of India, through the Ministry of Surface Transport.
Accordingly, a number of training institutions under the direct
administrative control of the Directorate General of Shipping have been
established for this purpose.
