The chance to travel throughout the world and the desire for adventure in the seas, apart from that, there are opportunities for a high salary, which attracts most youngsters to build their career in the Merchant Navy. This field is different from the navy. It offers commercial services, which is not the case in the navy because it is mostly involved in the defense of a nation. 

This field is the backbone of international trade, carrying goods all over the world. These merchant ships give employment to many workers to carry and deliver goods in different countries. Without the presence of a merchant navy, most import-export businesses would become quite difficult to function effectively. Thus it is considered as a glamorous field by youngsters.

This job is considered quite rewarding, especially by the people who are interested in traveling throughout the world. This job offers us a chance to visit new and beautiful places all around the world. This Merchant Navy career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and quite challenging. For this job, they have to give Physical as well as medical tests.

1. Offers commercial goods & services.
2. It offers a chance to make good money.
3. Gives a job to many people.
4. Visit adventurous places.
5. Physical and mental checkup is a necessary criterion.

Merchant navy of India

The merchant navy specifically is an industry that is fully engaged in commercial activities that involve the transportation of goods and passengers through seaways. It is also known as Merchant Marine in various countries. The field of the Merchant Navy is a crucial part of the global trading sector, and it is an important component of any country’s economic development.

As most of the world’s commercial activities are carried out through the seaways, the field of merchant navy has much more importance across the world. The modern shipping industry has come a long way from the olden days of ships. The modern cargo ships are massive in size and are equipped with the latest and highly advanced technology systems. This invisible industry and its unsung heroes play a vital role in the development and progress of the global economy.

1. Carrying goods and passengers through seaways.
2. It plays an important role in the Indian economy. 
3. Huge ships equipped with advanced technology.
4. Handles commercial activities only.
5. Also termed as an invisible industry.

What is Merchant Navy

Merchant navy is considered as the backbone of worldwide trade, carrying goods all over the world. These merchant ships give jobs to many workers to carry and deliver goods at different country levels. Without the merchant navy’s presence, most of the import-export business would become a bit difficult to function effectively. 

Merchant navy is considered quite rewarding, especially by the people who are interested in traveling through the world. This job offers us chances to visit new and beautiful places all around the world. Thus it is considered as a glamorous field by youngsters. This career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and quite challenging. For this job, they have to give Physical as well as a medical checkup.

Merchant navy salary

Merchant Navy is a very rewarding field, and the salary can range from anywhere between Rs. Twelve thousand to Rs. 8 lakhs per month. However, the salary structure will differ from one company to another, one city to another, the demands of import-export and based on seniority, etc.

Average salary: 40000-50000 /month

Merchant Navy Jobs

The conditions for joining the merchant navy are completing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Students need to be unmarried Indian citizens (male or female). Good eyesight is required, but glasses up to plus or minus 2.5 can be allowed. Admission is given through an entrance exam, after which they have to give a screening test and written exams.

1. There are various deck jobs available like Master, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, Deck Cadet, Bosun.
2. There are various Engine jobs available like Chief Engineer, 2nd Engineer, 3rd Engineer, 4th Engineers, 5th Engineer, Electrical Officer
3. There are few Saloon jobs also, which are Chief cook, Chief steward, General steward.
4. The minimum eligibility for joining the merchant navy is completing the 12th.
5. Poor eyesight is not an issue for the merchant navy.

Merchant navy eligibility

There are vacancies for students after class 10th also. Most of the vacancies are there for students who have completed their 12th. Most of the merchant navy courses have their eligibility of 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. The students who join the merchant navy after 10th have to complete a few sea-related courses to join the service.

1. Completing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 
2. Candidates need to be unmarried Indian citizens.
3. Normal vision is required, but glasses may be allowed.
4. Joining starts with entrance followed by a screening test and a main written examination.
5. Have to complete a ship-training course to get employment. 

Merchant Navy age limit

According to the Government policies, the maximum age relaxation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is five years. Physical fitness is also of utmost importance for a career in the sea. The students can join the merchant navy even after completing their class 10th as many courses are offered to students. Also, the students can join the merchant navy after completing their 12th.

Age limit

• Minimum age – 17 years
• Maximum age- 25 years

Merchant Navy course

Merchant Navy is considered the best career for those students who want to earn more, and traveling in seaways for many days did not bother them. Merchant navy is a cluster of ships responsible for carrying heavy goods from one country to another. It is a crucial part of worldwide trade as most of the import-export is done through these ships.

Courses in Merchant Navy

1. B.Sc. Nautical Science
2. B.E. Marine Engineering
3. B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
4. B.E. Petroleum Engineering
5. B.E. Mechanical Engineering
6. B.E. Harbour & Ocean Engineering
7. B.E. Civil Engineering
8. B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering
9. B.Sc. Marine Catering
10. Electro-Technical Officer Course

Merchant Navy course fees

The fees for merchant navy courses vary according to different colleges. The fees will be very high in private colleges as compared to government colleges. The approximate fees in both government and private colleges, are very high, but government colleges are less costly:

• Private: 4.5- 5 lakh
• Govt: 2.5 lakh

Exams for merchant navy

After completing the 12th standard, the students have to appear for the Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test, also known as IMU-CET. Or else the students can appear for the All India Merchant Navy exam, which is generally conducted in May. The other exams which the students can give are JEE, MERI entrance exam and TIMS.

1. 12th pass students have to appear for the entrance exam.
2. 10th pass students to get the job easily.
3. Consultants and placement agencies help in getting jobs easily.
4. The main exams are IMU-CET, All India Merchant Navy exam.
5. Other exams are JEE, MERI, and TIMSAT.

How to join merchant navy

We may choose to become a deck officer or Marine Engineer as there are two departments on the ship: Deck department and Engine department. If you are a brilliant student, you will have plenty of options apart from joining the Merchant Navy. Students can join directly after the 10th class also. But if they want to join after class 12th, they will have to crack the entrance exams.

How to join

1. Appear for the exam of IMU-CET. 
2. Appear for the All India Merchant Navy exam.
3. The other exams which the students can give are JEE, MERI entrance exam and TIMSAT.

Merchant navy after 12th

As discussed in the previous part, if a student wants to join the merchant navy after class 12, he/ she has to clear the entrance exams like the Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test, All India merchant navy exam. The other exams which a student can give are JEE, MERI Entrance Test, and TIMSAT.

1. Chance to visit the whole world.
2. Earn loads of money at a young age.
3. Opportunity to wear a uniform and be called an officer.

How to join merchant navy after graduation

Students who are a graduate in Marine or Mechanical or Electrical would find it easy to build the career of the Merchant Navy. Still, if they don’t have these qualifications, it might become difficult to join the merchant navy after graduation. Many good colleges offer merchant navy courses for graduation also.

1. Managing responsibility of multi-million dollar business.
2. Opportunity to wear uniforms and travel throughout the world.
3. Handling the massive workforce for handling ships.

Merchant navy application form

The chance of visiting the whole world, earning good money which is much higher than that of other employees, the opportunity to wear a uniform and be called an officer, the respect and maturity that comes with handling the responsibility of running a multi-million dollar ship and it’s goods and running the massive force behind it. These are few qualities of the merchant navy which one can boast of.

Merchant Navy uniform

The merchant navy uniform is a symbol of the greatest pride and respect for those working in this field. It involves hard work, discipline, and dedication for a maritime professional to become eligible to wear the prestigious merchant marine uniform.

Meaning of uniform

Stripes and badges are used to identify it’s crew members from travelers. It also helps in identifying officers from seamen.

Merchant navy colleges

It’s a work of great importance, and as an officer, the accuracy required in this field is 100 percent. The environment in these cruise ships is good if we behave nicely to the people around us. This field is not for those who are too attached to their families, and they want to stay at their homes.

Top colleges: 

1. International Maritime Institute 
2. Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies.
3. Vels Academy of Maritime Studies. 
4. Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training
5. Neotia Institute of Technology Management and Science 
6. BP Marine Academy. 
7. Indian Maritime University 
8. Coimbatore Marine College 

Merchant Navy requirements

There are vacancies for students who have completed their class 10th. Most of the vacancies are there for students who have completed their 12th. Most of the merchant navy courses have their eligibility of 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.

1. Completing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 
2. Candidates need to be unmarried Indian citizens.
3. Normal vision is required, but glasses may be allowed.

Difference between the merchant navy and the Indian navy

Indian navy involves the defense services of the soldiers who are serving the country. Indian defense services are the only field where no reservations are allowed, unlike other competitive exams. But in the merchant Navy, there are sponsorship based programs which helps the students in getting admission to colleges.

Navy	Merchant Navy
Includes the nation’s military wing.	Includes both shipping of goods and people.
Navy requires fitness and medical conditions	The requirements are the same here also.
Salary along with pride and respect.	Salary is always talk of the town.
A huge sense of satisfaction.	Satisfaction for luxurious life.