Ask & Answer: India's Largest Education Community

Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility for joining merchant navy is finishing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
Candidates have to be unmarried Indian citizens (male or female).
- Normal vision is required but glasses up to plus or minus 2.5 may be allowed.
- Admission is through an entrance followed by a screening test and a main written examination.
- After clearing the test, there is an interviewand a medicaltest.
- You also need to complete a ship-training course prior to the employment. The course is generally short-term where the candidates are taught basic security concerns of voyaging.
- There are some private institutes, which offer training for merchant navy as well. These institutes prepare students for jobs such as deck cadets and marine engineering jobs.
How to Join Merchant Navy After 12th
After class 12, you are eligible to study the following merchant navy courses:
- B.Sc. Nautical Science
- B.E. Marine Engineering
- B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering
- B.E. Petroleum Engineering
- B.E. Mechanical Engineering
- B.E. Harbour & Ocean Engineering
- B.E. Civil Engineering
- B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- B.Sc. Marine Catering
- Electro Technical Officer Course
Merchant Navy job profiles
- Deck officer (navigation officer)
- Electro-technical officer (ETO)
- Engineer
Ratings - Ratings are skilled seafarers who help all the officers with daily tasks
Catering & Hospitality crew (pursers, stewards, chef, housekeeper etc.)
Pay Package
In Merchant Navy, the salary can range from anywhere betweenRs.12000 to Rs.8 lakhs per month though the pay structure differs from company to company, city to city, the export-import needs, seniority etc. All crew members and officers are given free meals on board and senior officers can take along their wives for the voyage.
A Junior Engineer on a ship can earn aroundRs. 30,000 per month with free boarding and lodging while signed on board the vessel. The next level is of Second Engineer and finally, Chief Engineer on a ship. As you keep getting promoted, your salary increases substantially. A Chief Engineer at sea earns Rs. 1.5 lakhs per month or more net of taxes. It takes about 6-7 years for a Junior Engineer Officer to get promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, depending on individual capabilities and job opportunities available.