Guidance Cell

Career in Merchant Navy

"The opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so just cannot be ignored."

The opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure on the high seas, besides the possibility of high remunerations attracts many youngsters to make a career in the Merchant Navy. Merchant Navy is different from the navy in the sense that it offers commercial services, as opposed to the navy, which is largely involved in the defense of a nation.

Merchant Navy is the backbone of international trade, carrying cargo all over the world. The merchant ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one country to another. Without the merchant navy, much of the import-export business would come to a grinding halt!

A career in the merchant navy is considered a glamorous job, especially by the people who have been bitten by the travel bug. It offers an opportunity to visit new and exotic places all around the globe. Merchant Navy career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and a bit challenging.

The Merchant Navy career options mainly includes the following category:

• Navigating officers (Deck side officers)
• Marine engineering Officers (Engine side officers)
• Crew members (To assist the officers)
• Specialized officers (Electrical officer, Radio officers)

There are enormous employment opportunities in this field. Trained people are required for the three main departments of the ship - The Deck, The Engine and The Service. Candidates who finish the Basic Course can get a job very easily through various consultants and placement agencies. Merchant Navy fleet consists of cargo ships, container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships, as well as roll off/roll on ships. The possibility of finding employment in cargo ships is more as compared to the others.

Companies that run merchant ships require trained people who can operate and maintain the ships. Some of these companies are Chevron and Mobil of USA, Wallem Ship Management of Hong Kong, Denholm of UK, K Line, Bibby Ship Management, d'Amico etc. India too has its shipping companies, such as the Shipping Corporation of India, Great Eastern Shipping, Essar and Chowgule Shipping. In India, job opportunities are also available in government and private shipping companies like Shipping Corporation of India, clearing houses, del credere agents etc.