Merchant Navy India – Courses, Ratings & Certifications

This article is for those candidates who want to choose their future profession in Merchant Navy India, and we will make sure it will help you to make a decision for your future planning. Merchant Navy India is a commercial based shipping that trades in the whole world for import and export business.

It contains many commercial vessels such as general cargo, industrial goods, oil tankers, chemical tankers, liquid cargo and people carrying ships. Such commodities are transported in international waters in the different countries of the world. Although it is a male-oriented profession, there is no restriction for females to choose the profession.

Many of the youth of our country are not aware of this profession, so our intention is to educate young people to choose their career easily.

This career provides excellent opportunities such as a real pay scale, traveling in the whole world in the open sea, traveling in different kinds of countries working with various types of people and also with full food, beverages, and accommodation.

Before choosing up a job on a merchant Navy India, it is compulsory for the candidates to take training and educate themselves about the ship, although ships of today are very sophisticated and full of technology intense. Training in India covers the G.P. Rating course, Deck Cadet, and Engine Cadet. All these courses are arranged by the Directorate General of Shipping in co-ordination with IMU Indian Maritime University. So the applicants get a high standard of training even though officers in ships are also made to go through a vast syllabus with a written and oral exam which they have to pass it. In the shipping industry, Indian seafarers are in real demand and are highly paid with all facilities.

Merchant Shipping is one of the most secure industries in the world. In India a federation has formed which is known as (NUSI) National Union Seafarers of India, they work for the welfare of all the crew members. They keep watching constantly whether the crews onboard vessel get proper hygienic food, or whether they get their wages in time on not.

Even in problems in the failure of ship engines or problems of piracy in the seas, the NUSI takes the challenge to local government as well as International Transport Federation to take care of the situation and make sure for the safety of the crew members on board. The federation is also caring for the medical expenses of the seafarer and their family and sponsor their children for education and see to the financial support for their family until the end of life.

HOW TO JOIN ITS COURSE TO BECOME  SEAFARER:    

There are two separate branches:

1. A) Deck Cadet / Engine Cadet
2. B) G. P. Rating / C) Saloon Rating

Deck Cadet/ Engine Cadet: For this course, applicants must have pass 10+2 with the subject of Science, Mathematics and English with minimum marks of 55% then the applicant will be eligible for the said course. This course will directly make the candidate to Officer Grade, and the course is for 12 months and is conducted by the Indian Govt recognized University from 1^st Feb and 1^st Aug every year.

After clearing this course, the applicant is eligible to join on the vessel as a deck cadet or engine cadet. For this course, the age limit is a maximum of 25 years. SC/ST will get three years of age relaxation. After clearing the course, the applicant can join the vessel, and after 18 months sailing experience cadet can go to attend all advance and further courses in Merchant Navy India.

G.P. Rating: Applicant must have passed 10^th STD from the recognized Board with Science, Mathematics and English subjects with a minimum of 40% marks. Applicants have completed 17.5 years and should be below 25 years of age on the day of joining the course. As per Merchant Shipping Act, the applicant should be physically fit for sea service; Eyesight should be 6/6 with normal vision, no color blindness, height -158 cm, weight should be more than 50 kgs.

Following documents require while taking admission:

1	4 – Attested copies of School Leaving Certificate
2	4 – Attested copies of S.S.C. / Higher Certificate
3	4 – Attested copies of S.S.C. / larger Mark sheet
4	4 – Recent color photographs. (Size: 40 mm X 30 mm)
5	2 – Attested copies of Birth Certificate
6	Any other Certificates apart from higher educations
7	All the copies should be attested by School / College Principal only
8	Passport is a must while taking admission or passport application submission receipt.
9	The course is commencing from 1st. January and 1st. July every year.

The applicant can join the ship after the training is fulfilling, and the applicant can approach for Second Mate wrote exam and can complete his advance courses once the applicant gets ship sailing experience of 18^thmonths. When applicant ship sailing experience complete to 36 months applicants can give their oral examination.

Saloon Rating: Applicant must have pass 10^th Standard Exam with 40% marks in English subject to join this course. This course is commencing from 1^st January and 1^st July every year.

ENTRY ROUTES INTO ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT | How to join Merchant Navy?

To join the Engine Department there are many options such as:

1-To join as a fitter applicant must have ITI Trade Certificate of two years full-time duration in Engineering trades passed from ITI approved boards.

2-To join as a Junior Engineer the trainer from the naval dockyard, machinist coast guard or Indian Navy can enter on taking part A in the Marine Engineer Class IV examination.

3-To join the Engine Department applicant must be B.E Electrical/Electronic with training in an approved marine workshop with 18 months training, basic security course, and given part A of Marine Class IV exam.

4-To join as a 2 years Marine engineer applicant must be a diploma holder in Mechanical/Shipbuilding/Electrical   Marine engineering branches followed by 2  years of marine workshop training, MEO part A exam and basic safety courses.

5-Applicant from any Engineering field can join a year Marine Engineering course from the recognized training institute.

6-To join 1-year trainee marine engineering course applicant must be BE Mech/Ship Architecture with 50% marks.

7-To join 2 years trainee marine engineering course applicant must be BE Shipbuilding/Ship Architecture (4 years).

8-Applicant who can speak English fluently and is above 25 years of age can also go for U.K. GMDSS Course and STCW, and 95 advance courses and after he can apply for Indian CDC. These courses will help the applicant to join the Merchant Navy India as Radio Officer or Ships clerk or ordinary seaman.

Certifications In Merchant Navy India:

Applicants after completing Pre-sea Training, STCW Modular Courses, applicants are given Certificates and Documents from D.G. Shipping, Govt. of India such as:

1	Course Completion Certificate for Pre-sea Training Course
2	Individual Certificate for all STCW Modular Courses.
3	Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)

In Merchant Navy India for a seafarer, the CDC Continous Discharge Certificate is a precious and important document because this document is an identification of a sailor to sail in different kinds of ships which are in Coastal and Foreign waters. It is also a proof and report of entire journey of sea service of a seafarer. For serving on the ship, it is a license for the seafarer. The institutes from which the applicant has got successful training will arrange for Indian CDC for the applicant. The Shipping Master, Mercantile Marine Department Mumbai under the directive of The Directorate General of Shipping to the trainee of Indian nationality will issue the Indian CDC.

The following practicals will be given during the training period:

1	Personal Survival Techniques (P.S.T)
2	Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (P.S.S.R)
3	Elementary First Aid (E.F.A.)
4	Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (F.P.F.F.)
5	Oil Tanker Familiarization Course (O.T.F.C.)

Prospects:

In the future, the seafarers do not need to sail throughout his life in ships. After some sailing experience if the sailer is working has Deck Officer or Marine Engineers they have an option for settling down in a shore job if they want to, but in this case, they have to compromise in pay scale with Merchant Navy India.

Options for various Marine shore related work:

1-Examiner and Surveyors employed by Govt. of India.

2-Trainers in various Shipping institutes.

3-Surveyors for settlement of insurance claims, damage assessment, and cargo calculation.

4-Deck Officers can join as a Pilot employed by Port Trust in Major Ports.

5-The Many private firms offer for Technical Superintendents to look after the various type of work such as fixing the ship to carrying cargo, the sale of ships, the purchase of ships, chartering, brokering, ship operation and ship manning.

Ratings: In Merchant Navy India,

There are three types of rating Deck, Engine room, and Catering.

1-The Deck persons are responsible for cargo handling, mooring, unmooring and general maintenance of the ship.

2-The engine persons are responsible for the maintenance and operation of engines and associated equipment.

3-The catering persons look after food catering and the housekeeping of officers cabin.

                               MASTER

   __________________I______________________

    DECK                      ENGINE                       CATERING
       I                                    I                                        I
CH. OFFICER        2nd ENGINEER          CATERING OFFICER
       I                                    I                                         I
2nd OFFICER        3rd ENGINEER             CHIEF COOK
       I                                    I                                          I
3rd OFFICER         4th ENGINEER          GENERAL STEWARD
        I                                   I
BOSUN                      OILER
       I                                   I
  A.B.                        WIPER
    I
O.S.

Some details of different ranks in Merchant Navy India are as follows:

Master: Master is the captain of the ship. The captain in Merchant Navy India is responsible for everything on a ship such as safe navigation of the ship, about cleanliness and seaworthiness, the safety of all crew members and management. The captain ensures ship certificates, documentation and about local and international laws and as well as company policies to be fulfilled. The overall captain is the boss of the ship.

Chief Officer: Chief is second in charge of the ship Navigation for about 4-hour duration. A chief officer or chief mate looks to the loading, unloading and securing the cargoes. During the traveling in the sea, the chief mate is responsible for the care for loads that include overall responsibilities for the ship’s stability and special concerns of cargo which are dangerous, hazardous and harmful.

Second Officer: A Second Officer also called as the second mate is responsible to the Master for keeping the ship, its crew and its cargo safe with the duration of 8 hours He is also known as a navigation officer, he also looks after deck when tying up the ship.

Third Officer: The third officer also known as the third mate keep the ship’s log, follows the Master’s order and assists in the navigation of the ship. For loading and discharging of cargo in the port, the third mate will give support. His place is on the bridge while docking with the Master.

Bosun: Bosun takes orders and daily routine works from Captain and hands over to his subordinates who are capable of that work.

A.B: He is the man in charge of the lifeboat equipment and can be able to handle a lifeboat under oars or sail. His duty is also to maintain the bridge in a clean and shipshape condition.

O.S: Called as an Ordinary Seaman and may be asked to do many tasks in the ship given by the superior. Their duty is to assist the able seaman and is the supporting hands of the ship. Making the watch for the awakening of men and officers for their duties and also helps in an emergency such as the lifeboat, abandon ship and fire and keeps the passageways in shape and condition.

They are also called for to scale, stand to a lookout, for paint, handle lines in the mooring of the ship and operating of all deck gear such as topping, cradling, booms housing and to help the carpenter in repair work also. The carpenter also repairs everything needed in the ship, keeps the lifeboat in good order replace broken rivets builds temporarily or permanent partition and in event of the collision, he will assume command of an emergency crew to repair the damaged part.

Engine Room: Applicants who are eligible in Marine Engineering are in the engine room. They can join as Chief Engineer,2^nd Engineer,3^rd Engineer, 4^th Engineer, the ship on board. By giving their future exams and performance on the ship they can get promoted step by step such as form 4^th to 3rd and from 3^rd to 2^nd and from 2^nd to Chief Engineer. They are responsible for the main engines and also associated equipment like power generation equipment, cargo pumps, and air conditioning, etc.

Chief Engineer: Chief Engineer is responsible for Main Engine and associated machinery equipment and the air conditioning cooling system on the board of the ship while sailing.

Second Engineer: Like Chief Engineer he is also responsible for looking after Main Engine and other associated machinery like power generation equipment and cargo pumps etc.

Third Engineer: They are the third most senior marine engineer on the ship. The Third Engineer is responsible for boilers, fuel auxiliary engines, condensate, and feed system. He is also in charge of fuel transfer operations.

Fourth Engineer: He has to fulfill the order of chief engineer and assist him during his watch on a ship.

Oiler: An oiler is a man whose work is to oil machinery. The oiler work duty time at sea is four hours with eight hours off in between and in some port vessels his duty time is eight hours long with sixteen hours off in between. As a part of the engine department, the Oilers also looks after the propulsion and other systems onboard the vessel.

During his duty, the oiler may be called to do many things. Such as pump out the bilges, pump up a freshwater or ballast tanks, keep an eye on the boilers water level and the fireman, take the temperature of the stack, seawater, filter box, and feed water for entrance into the logbook. And on some vessels, he has a station to keep clean and keep oil clean on the floor plates.

Wiper: In their routine maintenance work a wiper helps Oiler and Duty Officer in the Engine room. He is the most junior grade crew member on the ship. He is an all-rounder worker for the ship in the Engine room where repair works and overhauling of boilers and machinery is done. For newcomers, this is the only grade for the people who are less qualified in the Department. He washes paintwork, chips, scrapes, paints and all those duties which are related to machinery and cleanliness. A wiper is always a seaman he should be knowing each and every important work of the ship and must be interested in mechanics, using oil fuels, and operating pressure vessels.

Chief Cook: In Merchant Navy India he is responsible for making and serving meals. He supervises and participates in the preparation of food for all crew members and officers on board. Chief Cook orders for all the supplies of the food department and is responsible for all the meals served on board and plans for the meals. Meals served to the Captain, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, Chief Engineer, First Engineer, Second Engineer, Third Engineer, Junior Engineer, Deck or Engine Cadets are the responsibility of Mess Man to serve them.