| MERCHANT NAVY |
Nature of Work
The main functional areas where Merchant Navy can be
pursued as career are as follows.
1. Deck / Navigation Officer: Deck or navigation officer as
the name suggests, are in charge of the navigation of the
ship. The Captain or Master is in command of the ship. He is
not only responsible for vessel navigation but also for the
discipline on the ship and safety of passengers, crew and the
cargo. He is in charge for assigning organisational duties for
ships operation, navigation and maintenance with the chief
mate. The officer must ensure the observance of national and
international codes of conduct guiding sea transportation.
The main functional areas where Merchant Navy can be
pursued as career are as follows.
1. Deck / Navigation Officer: Deck or navigation officer as
the name suggests, are in charge of the navigation of the
ship. The Captain or Master is in command of the ship. He is
not only responsible for vessel navigation but also for the
discipline on the ship and safety of passengers, crew and the
cargo. He is in charge for assigning organisational duties for
ships operation, navigation and maintenance with the chief
mate. The officer must ensure the observance of national and
international codes of conduct guiding sea transportation.
It is essential for the Merchant Navy navigating officers to
obtain a certificate of competency. He is assisted by the chief
mate also known as first mate who is in charge of the cargo
planning and deck work. The second mate is in charge of
mails, the maintenance of all equipment and charts used for
navigation. The third mate is responsible for maintenance of
lifeboats and firefighting equipment. He acts like a signal
officer in charge of all signalling equipment and assists with
cargo work.
2. Engineering Officers: Merchant Navy engineer officers
have complete responsibility of the ships engine room like the
main engine, boilers, pumps, hydraulic and fuel systems and
the ships electrical generating plant and distribution system.
The chief engineer on merchant ships is responsible for all
machineries, equipments, auxiliaries, etc. The job demands
maintaining of documents of working as well as machinery
being repaired. Fuel consumption and requirements are to be
logged. Second engineers are responsible for the
maintenance of lubricating system, engine room auxiliaries
and electric equipments. The third engineer is responsible for
fuel and water, supervises tank soundings, and logs the
consumption of water and fuel. The boiler room equipment ,
the feed water system, pumps and condensers are monitored
by him. The forth engineer is responsible for the operation
and maintenance of engine room auxiiliaries. Merchant Marine
Electrical officers maintain and repair all electrical circuits and
motors. Some of the duties assigned to the 3rd and 4th
engineer are interchangeable and may vary from company to
company.
3. Stewards / Service department: This department is
responsible for preparing of food and meals for the Merchant
Navy officers on board . They also maintain living quarters of
the crew and the mess halls. The chief steward maintains
inventories of food stuffs, linen, bedding, furniture, etc. The
other staff are the chief cook, baker and attendants.
4. Merchant Navy Rating: There are three kinds of
ratings: deck rating, engine room rating and catering rating.
Merchant Marine Deck ratings are responsible for cleaning,
sweeping, chipping of rust, polishing, etc. They help in loading
and unloading of cargo and in port they assist in the mooring
of the ship.
obtain a certificate of competency. He is assisted by the chief
mate also known as first mate who is in charge of the cargo
planning and deck work. The second mate is in charge of
mails, the maintenance of all equipment and charts used for
navigation. The third mate is responsible for maintenance of
lifeboats and firefighting equipment. He acts like a signal
officer in charge of all signalling equipment and assists with
cargo work.
2. Engineering Officers: Merchant Navy engineer officers
have complete responsibility of the ships engine room like the
main engine, boilers, pumps, hydraulic and fuel systems and
the ships electrical generating plant and distribution system.
The chief engineer on merchant ships is responsible for all
machineries, equipments, auxiliaries, etc. The job demands
maintaining of documents of working as well as machinery
being repaired. Fuel consumption and requirements are to be
logged. Second engineers are responsible for the
maintenance of lubricating system, engine room auxiliaries
and electric equipments. The third engineer is responsible for
fuel and water, supervises tank soundings, and logs the
consumption of water and fuel. The boiler room equipment ,
the feed water system, pumps and condensers are monitored
by him. The forth engineer is responsible for the operation
and maintenance of engine room auxiiliaries. Merchant Marine
Electrical officers maintain and repair all electrical circuits and
motors. Some of the duties assigned to the 3rd and 4th
engineer are interchangeable and may vary from company to
company.
3. Stewards / Service department: This department is
responsible for preparing of food and meals for the Merchant
Navy officers on board . They also maintain living quarters of
the crew and the mess halls. The chief steward maintains
inventories of food stuffs, linen, bedding, furniture, etc. The
other staff are the chief cook, baker and attendants.
4. Merchant Navy Rating: There are three kinds of
ratings: deck rating, engine room rating and catering rating.
Merchant Marine Deck ratings are responsible for cleaning,
sweeping, chipping of rust, polishing, etc. They help in loading
and unloading of cargo and in port they assist in the mooring
of the ship.
Personality
Merchant Navy jobs call for ability to withstand long stretches of hard work in an emergency like situation on board a
merchant vessel. Merchant Navy cadets, officers and engineer need to be able to bear the physical strains associated
with the job. The job requires a person with tough mental and physical capabilities to sustain through such stress. A
person with a strong mental makeup and tough physical constitution along with a sporting adaptive and adjustable
attitude can find life at sea to be one of adventure and fun. Life at sea is not a comfortable break from the routine of
academics. A merchant navy entrant must involve in a rigorous course of the on-the-job learning. They have to pass
stipulated examination to get promotions.
Merchant Navy jobs call for ability to withstand long stretches of hard work in an emergency like situation on board a
merchant vessel. Merchant Navy cadets, officers and engineer need to be able to bear the physical strains associated
with the job. The job requires a person with tough mental and physical capabilities to sustain through such stress. A
person with a strong mental makeup and tough physical constitution along with a sporting adaptive and adjustable
attitude can find life at sea to be one of adventure and fun. Life at sea is not a comfortable break from the routine of
academics. A merchant navy entrant must involve in a rigorous course of the on-the-job learning. They have to pass
stipulated examination to get promotions.
Remunerations
Merchant Navy jobs are one of the few careers where the salary is relatively high. Merchant navy job salaries can range
anywhere between Rs. 12000 to Rs 3 lakhs per month though the pay structure differs from company to company, city
to city, the export-import needs, seniority etc. All Merchant Navy crew and Merchant Navy Officers are given free meals
on board and senior merchant navy officers can take along their wives for the voyage. Usually emoluments on foreign
vessels are higher specially the West European, U.S and the Gulf companies. Imported liquor, cigarettes, canned
foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. They are also entitled to four month leave every year.
Life in merchant navy can be adventurous for all those with wanderlust. The long period of solitude notwithstanding, the
opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so, just cannot be argued away.
Merchant Navy courses & Merchant Navy training Institute:
BIMS Thailand offers deck and engine courses for students who wish to join as deck cadets or marine engineers on
board ships.
The college (BIMS, Thailand) gives placements to all students who do the deck and engine courses from their institute.
For more information on admission details, course fee, starting dates, placement companies, salaries etc., please visit
the website:
www.springdaleindia.com
Useful links:
Merchant Navy jobs are one of the few careers where the salary is relatively high. Merchant navy job salaries can range
anywhere between Rs. 12000 to Rs 3 lakhs per month though the pay structure differs from company to company, city
to city, the export-import needs, seniority etc. All Merchant Navy crew and Merchant Navy Officers are given free meals
on board and senior merchant navy officers can take along their wives for the voyage. Usually emoluments on foreign
vessels are higher specially the West European, U.S and the Gulf companies. Imported liquor, cigarettes, canned
foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. They are also entitled to four month leave every year.
Life in merchant navy can be adventurous for all those with wanderlust. The long period of solitude notwithstanding, the
opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so, just cannot be argued away.
Merchant Navy courses & Merchant Navy training Institute:
BIMS Thailand offers deck and engine courses for students who wish to join as deck cadets or marine engineers on
board ships.
- Students who are Class X pass, Class XII (non science), BA & BCom students can join the Merchant Navy as
Deck or Engine Ratings by doing the GP Rating course. - Class XII Science or BSc students (with PCM in Class XII) can join the Merchant Navy as Deck Cadets by doing
the HND Nautical Science course. - BE Mechanical students can join the Merchant Navy by doing the graduate engineers course.
The college (BIMS, Thailand) gives placements to all students who do the deck and engine courses from their institute.
For more information on admission details, course fee, starting dates, placement companies, salaries etc., please visit
the website:
www.springdaleindia.com
Useful links:
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency, UK: www.mcga.gov.uk
- Merchant Navy Training Board, UK: www.mntb.org.uk
- International Maritime Organisation: www.imo.org
- Sailor Today: www.sailortoday.net
- Nautical Institute: www.nautinst.org
- International Labour Organisation: www.ilo.org
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The merchant navy is another, non-combatant and essential service that can be very satisfying and certainly more
monetarily rewarding. Merchant marine came into existence as soon as men were able to build a craft that could float
and carry people and cargo. The merchant ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one
country to another. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk
carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships,as well as roll off/roll on ships. Barge carrying ships are long, usually flat
boats which are usually wed or manouvered by other towing vessels. Roll on / Roll off ships are designed to carry
vehicles which can be loaded at ports by being driven on and can be unloaded by being driven off. Bulk carriers - Cargo
such as grain, oil, ore has lot of weight. Bulk carriers are so designed that they can enter shallow waters and narrow
channels. They can be loaded and unloaded by special equipment in very short time. Tankers are ships which carry oil
and other petroleum products in large tanks built inside the ship. Refrigerator ships are those type which have huge cold
storage plants built in them . They are used to carry perishable food stuff and items on specific service routes.
Passenger ships-can range anywhere between small ferries to Trans-Atlantic vessels.
monetarily rewarding. Merchant marine came into existence as soon as men were able to build a craft that could float
and carry people and cargo. The merchant ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one
country to another. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk
carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships,as well as roll off/roll on ships. Barge carrying ships are long, usually flat
boats which are usually wed or manouvered by other towing vessels. Roll on / Roll off ships are designed to carry
vehicles which can be loaded at ports by being driven on and can be unloaded by being driven off. Bulk carriers - Cargo
such as grain, oil, ore has lot of weight. Bulk carriers are so designed that they can enter shallow waters and narrow
channels. They can be loaded and unloaded by special equipment in very short time. Tankers are ships which carry oil
and other petroleum products in large tanks built inside the ship. Refrigerator ships are those type which have huge cold
storage plants built in them . They are used to carry perishable food stuff and items on specific service routes.
Passenger ships-can range anywhere between small ferries to Trans-Atlantic vessels.
Career Prospects
The development of new technology and better equipment has led to increase in the shipping business. Therefore man
power shortage in the marine professions has led many foreign and Indian shipping companies to recruit more and more
people directly by putting advertisement in magazines like Sailor Today or through training institutes. Merchant navy
cadets have to undergo three years of job training at sea before they can take the Second Mate's exam. Post
retirement, merchant navy officers are in demand for consulting and advising. Some merchant navy engineers also
venture into allied fields like ship care and maintenance. Some may also take up a job in port or dock looking after the
routine job like loading /unloading , clearing of goods from customs etc. The employment opportunities in this profession
are available in government and private shipping companies like Shipping Corp. of India, Clearing Houses, surveyors,
marine agents, etc. Relatively speaking, marine engineer officers have better shore job prospects as they may work in
power plants, cement plants, hotels, hospitals, malls, colleges, shipping / management companies, etc.
The development of new technology and better equipment has led to increase in the shipping business. Therefore man
power shortage in the marine professions has led many foreign and Indian shipping companies to recruit more and more
people directly by putting advertisement in magazines like Sailor Today or through training institutes. Merchant navy
cadets have to undergo three years of job training at sea before they can take the Second Mate's exam. Post
retirement, merchant navy officers are in demand for consulting and advising. Some merchant navy engineers also
venture into allied fields like ship care and maintenance. Some may also take up a job in port or dock looking after the
routine job like loading /unloading , clearing of goods from customs etc. The employment opportunities in this profession
are available in government and private shipping companies like Shipping Corp. of India, Clearing Houses, surveyors,
marine agents, etc. Relatively speaking, marine engineer officers have better shore job prospects as they may work in
power plants, cement plants, hotels, hospitals, malls, colleges, shipping / management companies, etc.
Merchant Marine Engine room ratings are responsible for the day to day cleanliness of the engine room and for routine
oiling, greasing, and servicing of machinery. As they experience they help engineer officers monitor and ensure the safe
running of main plant and ancillary equipment.
Catering rating - they usually clean accommodation areas and public rooms, help in preparation of foods, clean galleys
and cooking utensils, and to maintain fridges, freezers. They also serve meals to officers and crew and help in loading
and storing of consumable stores.
oiling, greasing, and servicing of machinery. As they experience they help engineer officers monitor and ensure the safe
running of main plant and ancillary equipment.
Catering rating - they usually clean accommodation areas and public rooms, help in preparation of foods, clean galleys
and cooking utensils, and to maintain fridges, freezers. They also serve meals to officers and crew and help in loading
and storing of consumable stores.