Merchant Navy - Course Overview

Duration: 4.5 yrs |Mode: Regular|Avg. Fees: 10,00,000 / Year

 MERCHANT NAVY
 COLLEGES
 SYLLABUS
 CAREER OPTIONS

About Merchant Navy

Merchant Navy can be the best field for those candidates who want to earn big and travelling through oceans for
months does not bother you. Merchant navy is a fleet of ships that is responsible for transporting heavy goods from
one country to another. It is one of the essential parts of international trade as most of the import and export are done
through ships.
A career in Merchant Navy can be most beneficial if you are looking for lucrative jobs. This field can be joined through
different courses depending on the preference of the candidate. There are three modes of entry into the field varying
depending on the courses that one seeks. Candidates can join Merchant Navy at any level starting after class 10 to
graduation.

Courses and Fields in Merchant Navy

Here’s a list of some of the popular Merchant Navy courses. 

B.Tech Naval Architecture and Offshore

B.Tech Marine Engineering
Engineering

B.Tech Harbour & Ocean Engineering G.P Rating

Diploma in Marine Engineering (DME) Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)

B.B.A. Logistics & Supply Chain Higher National Diploma (Marine

Management Engineering) 

Marine Engineering under Alternate

BBA Shipping
Training Scheme 

Higher National Diploma (Nautical

M.B.A. Shipping & Logistics Management
Science) 

MBA Shipping Finance B.E Harbour and Ocean Engineering

B.Tech Ship Building B.E Marine Engineering

B.E. Mechanical Engineering ETO (Electro-Technical Officer)

B.Sc Nautical Science Electro-Technical Officer Course

Merchant Navy Eligibility Criteria
Since Merchant Navy courses are offered under UG, PG, Diploma and Certificate levels, the eligibility criteria for
different courses vary. Here are some common requirements for Merchant Navy courses for different levels. 
Requirements for Merchant Navy Bachelor Courses:
 For bachelor Merchant Navy courses, candidates must have completed Class 12 with Science stream and
Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. 
 The minimum marks requirement is 60 per cent. 
 The minimum age requirement for this is between 17 to 25 years. 
 Requirements for Merchant Navy Diploma Courses:
Since there are different types of diploma courses available, the criteria within the category vary. 
 Candidates should not be over the age of 25 - 28 years. 
 For most of the one-year diploma courses, one must have passed 10+2 level of examination with PCM and
English as compulsory subjects. 
 For two-year diploma courses, candidates must have passed Diploma in Electronics Engineering/ Marine
Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Shipbuilding Engineering with at least 50 per cent marks. 
Requirements for 6-Months Merchant Navy Courses:
 The age should be between 17.5 to 25 years. 
 Candidates who have passed Class 10 with Science, English and Maths as main subjects and at least 40
per cent marks are considered eligible. 
Requirements for Merchant Navy Postgraduate Courses:
 For MBA courses related to Merchant Navy, the upper age limit is 25 years whereas, for GME the upper age
limit is 28 years. 
 For GME, candidates must hold a BE degree in Naval Architecture/ Mechanical Engineering.
 For MBA courses, candidates with any bachelor degree from a recognised university are considered
eligible. 
Medical Fitness Requirements for Merchant Navy Courses:
 Candidates applying for any of the Merchant Navy courses must meet the medical fitness requirements. 
 Candidates must be medically fit including hearing and eyesight. 
 They must have a normal vision (6/6) in each eye separately. 
 It is required that the candidates produce a certificate for medical fitness by authorised authorities. 

Merchant Navy Admission Process

Entry to different programmes leading to a career in merchant navy is done mostly on the basis of entrance exams.
However, there are other procedures for different entry levels. Check details below:
1. Merchant Navy Admission through Entrance Exams and Merit:
If you want to apply for technical courses for entering the Merchant Navy, then you will have to appear for entrance
exams. Exams are conducted for admission to marine engineering programmes after class 12. Following are some
popular exams:
 IMU CET
 JEE Advanced
 MERI Entrance Exam
 TMI SAT
However, there are a few colleges that also take students on the basis of marks secured in class 12.
2. Sponsorship Based Entry in Merchant Navy Courses:
 Entry is also possible if you apply to either of the popular maritime institutes for maritime programmes. You
can apply for sponsorships at the institutes started by shipping companies to train potential candidates for the merchant
navy.
 The sponsorship to go on a ship will be provided to you by the company through which you apply only if you
have completed a course at their institute. You can also apply for multiple sponsorships at different companies.
3. Lateral Entry (LE) into 2nd year of Marine Engineering:
 Direct Admission can also be taken into the second year of marine engineering programmes approved by
the Directorate General of Shipping. There are two ways of securing LE seats in Marine Engineering programmes:
 After completing the first year of engineering from electrical or mechanical branch with minimum 60% and
 Pursuing a diploma in electrical, mechanical, marine or ship-building engineering with minimum 60%
aggregate marks

Merchant Navy Syllabus

Popular Subjects:
 
 Voyage Planning and Marine Electrical
Mechanics of Fluids
Collision Prevention Technology

Nautical Physics and

Electrical Machines Ship Operation Technology
Electronics Paper

Marine Auxiliary Machine Principles of Navigation Marine IC Engineering

Marine Boiler and System

Shipping Management Maritime Law
Engineering

Cargo Machine and Marine Marine Heat Engines and

Naval Architecture
Communication Air Conditioning

Marine Machines and STCW and Ship Fire

Environmental Science
System Design Prevention
 
Training:
After completing the respective programmes in the merchant navy, it is mandatory for all candidates to undergo pre-
sea training conducted by the Maritime Training Institute. Be it marine engineering or simply a maritime catering
programme, all candidates have to undergo this training before they start working as interns on the ship. The duration
of the training can vary from six months to one year depending on the programme that the candidate has pursued.

Top Science Colleges

St. Stephen's College , Delhi

Loyola College , Chennai

 St. Xaviers College , Mumbai

Institute of Management-Christ University , Bangalore

Madras Christian College , Chennai

The Oxford College of Science , Bangalore

Stella Maris College , Chennai

Ramjas College , New Delhi

 Fergusson College , Pune

Hansraj College , Delhi

View All Science Colleges

Want to know more about Merchant Navy ?

Get more details

Career Options and Job Prospects

Merchant Navy is one of the most high paying careers in India as well as abroad. Sailors are paid excellent packages
as working on a ship is considered to be a difficult job. There are numerous career opportunities in this field and
salaries vary depending on the post of the candidates.
Usually, Naval Officers are paid six figure packages. Candidates can apply for these posts by clearing the
competency programmes conducted by the Government of India. Following is the salary scope after pursuing a
career in merchant navy:

Average Salary
Profile Qualification Field Requisite
(approx.)

4 + 2 months of pre- Rs. 25,000 to

G P Rating Class 10
sea course 60,000 per month

Class 12 along with pre- Rs. 25,000 to

Trainee Cadet 1 year pre-sea course
sea Nautical Diploma 85,000 per month

Class 12 along with pre- 18 months of service Rs. 25,000 to

Deck Cadet
sea Nautical Diploma at sea as deck cadet 85,000 per month

2nd Mate (FG) 18 months of service Rs. 1,50,000 to

3rd Officer/
Certificate of at sea as 2nd or 3,00,000 per
2ndOfficer
Competency 3rdofficer month

1st Mate (FG) Rs. 4,00,000 to

18 months of service
Chief Officer Certificate of 6,00,000 per
at sea as chief officer
Competency month

4 to 5 years of Rs. 8,65,000 to

Master (FG) Certificate
Captain experience in the 20,00,000 per
of Competency
industry month
 
Sailors serving in merchant navy get tax free salaries if they spend 183 days of a year in international waters else the
salary is taxable as per the laws of the Government of India.
Merchant Navy, being a field that requires exhaustive traveling, there are well paying off-shore options as well that
one can look into after taking an early retirement from the job or on completion of the contract.