Leading Marine Engineering Institute India- IMSGoa: Why merchant navy is a good career option in India?

What is Merchant Navy?

Merchant Navy is traditionally considered as a second line of Defense for a Maritime Nation after the Navy. Here lot of goods and produce of a country are exported and national requirements are imported globally. Thus Merchant Navy contributes in the economic defense of a nation.Merchant Navy handles 90% of the goods by volume and 80% of the goods by value for our country. Merchant navy comprises of various types of ships which handle passengers, liquid cargoes and solid cargoes like crude oil, LPG, LNG, derivative oils and bulk cargoes like iron ore, coal, fertilizers etc. Packaged cargo is carried in containers.

To operate these ships a lot of highly skilled manpower is required.

What is it like to live and work at sea?

Working at sea is unlike working anywhere else. A person lives and works on the ship where he is employed. A lot of dedication to duty is required to be able to function effectively. People work during the day time on maintenance of equipments, routine operations etc. Apart from this people are keeping “watches” round the clock. This means that they are watching or keeping an eye on machinery operation in engine room and working of navigational equipment on the bridge (wheel house) and keeping a look out on the ‘heading’ of the ship i.e. in which direction she is moving.It is a highly satisfying professional life in which a lot of camaraderie is also developed between the people on board the ship due to living and working together in close proximity.

Is it very risky to work at sea?

Like all professions, working in merchant navy has its own risks because of the natural environment of high seas. Earlier most of the issues affecting the safety of a person were related to the weather conditions in the area of movement of the ship and mechanical failure of ships’ machineries.Happily with the advancement of weather forecasting technology and in communications, a ship is always well informed about the surrounding weather conditions. Hence, ships nowadays avoid severe weather conditions by diverting their course. Similarly, a vast improvement in machineries has led to increased reliability in performance. Thus machinery breakdowns are relatively less in well maintained and managed ship.

What about Piracy at sea?

One of the persisting risks in working at sea over the last five centuries has been piracy in various parts of the World. In spite of severe action being consistently taken against the pirates, this nuisance springs up now and then in some areas.The most recent being the incidents of piracy in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea areas off the coast of Somalia. Stringent action by the Navies of all the Maritime Nations has almost wiped out piracy in these areas.Ships staff is trained well and given protection if the ship has to sail through piracy affected areas.

Till what age you work at sea?

A person can work up to the age of 60 provided they maintain their physical fitness.

What about family life for a Seafarer?

Initially when a person joins a ship he cannot carry his family. Once he reaches senior positions he can take his family on board.Foregoing family life for a period of time is a sacrifice required by the profession of sea faring. The Seafarer makes up for this by enjoying extended vacations or holidays from work by being completely available to his family during this time. He earns approximately 15 to 20 days leave for every month served on board ship.The parents, wife and children of a seafarer have to learn to adapt their lives without the presence of the Seafarer all the time. This does require some sacrifice on their part also.

What are the safeguards for an Indian Seafarer?

The Government of India issues to every Seafarer a continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) which identifies him or her as a Seafarer and also a Passport just like every other citizen, which identifies his Nationality. Further, recruitment and placement of Indian Seafarers is permitted only through approved and registered ship manning, ship owning companies. The employment guarantees to the Seafarers for the duration of his employment the following: his rank and salary, terms of employment, living and boarding arrangements, transportation from home town before and after the employment to the ship etc. Indian Seafarers are protected under Merchant Shipping Act 1959.

Finally, I recommend that when you are young, want to do something bigger in career then merchant navy job is good for you. And Once you have made enough money then just switch your job and do something which is comforting to you.