Joining Merchant Navy : Keep in Mind Before These Simple Things

Joining Merchant Navy : Keep in Mind Before These Simple Things

Planning to join merchant navy? Joining merchant navy is a very unique career choice, but then there are certain things that you should consider before making it your career. The list of why merchant marine is a very good career option (or not so good one),  is very long but with the help of these top five points, knowing why to opt for marine careers and what to look out for before joining the merchant navy will become genuinely easy..

Right Qualification

Not everyone can join merchant navy. The most important thing needed by a person to be a part of the marine careers is the right qualification from the right merchant marine academy. Different countries have their own merchant navy rules and academies so it becomes necessary to enrol in the appropriate academy as required by the nation’s merchant marine laws to get the required qualifications.

Choose the Right Job

Merchant marine offers a lot of job options – from technical to non-technical professionals. Radio officers, captains, pursers (people who are in-charge of managing the accounts), able-bodied seamen, chefs, first mate and second mate are the kind of jobs that are available to the interested people. You are the best judge of your capabilities, so choose your stream accordingly. Some positions come with high responsibilities and you should be ready to deliver your best.

Health and Fitness

You wouldn’t be selected if you are not fit. Health and fitness is the 3^rd most important thing before you consider joining merchant navy. Since the merchant navy men have to be on the water for a major portion of the year, their health and fitness becomes a major concern. People with bad health cannot be a part of the marine careers as it could cause problems for not just themselves but to the entire ship as well. Life on ship demands great physical fitness, so don’t opt for the career if you feel you won’t be able to deliver physically.

Do note that health and physical fitness tests are carried out at regular intervals of time. They are conducted every time before boarding the ship and if any complication arises, the candidate will not be allowed to join the ship. Passing the test during the time for admission in the course does not ensure you are fit for sea life. There are some tests which are carried in between the course (hearing compatibility test etc.) which if failed will lead to termination of the course.

Almost Negligible Social Life

The fourth aspect involved is about the amount of time spent offshore. If you are a social animal who likes to mingle with friends on every opportunity you can find, then better stay away from Merchant navy. Since merchant navy is all about business and commercial activities at sea, the merchant vessel spends a lot of time on the sea than on port. This is why, when a person is thinking about joining merchant navy, the person needs to think a lot about the time period. If the person is adventurous, then the time period could go to the person’s advantage but if the person has a shy personality and needs emotional anchorage from friends and family then marine careers could be disadvantageous as it could lead to homesickness and unnecessary problems due to the person’s inability to adjust to the job.

Personality and Attitude

The person’s personality and nature plays a very vital role when on ship. Being a part of the merchant navy will allow a person to not only meet new people but learn lots of new things about different cultures of the world. A person who is adventurous, as mentioned in the previous point could learn and grasp lot of point that could prove beneficial for the merchant navy ship. But for a person who does not interact with people that much, the job could prove to be difficult. Note that there will be only 20 faces or even lesser with whom you would be interacting for months each day. So even if you have some problem with any crew member, you have no option but to work with him, keeping the grudges aside. If you feel you are not the kind of person, who can compartmentalize his or her mind, then better give this career a miss. This is why it becomes important before joining merchant navy to know what type of a person one is and whether merchant navy will suit the person or not. Have some time with yourself and then decide.

Job surety and high income: 

Many people think that it will be easy to find a job on ship than on land with high earning as soon as joining the ship. With growing number of institutions and more candidates compared to job openings, there is job crunch in the seafaring industry especially at the entry level (junior officers). Candidates who cleared the required courses are finding it difficult to get a ship for completing their sea-time and training so that they can appear for competency exam to become officers.

The Earnings of a seafarer is high enough but there is a catch of “contract tenure”, waiting period and expenses of competency examination. The entry level candidates earns as much as any land job person, and hence it is only when you pass exam and have a COC, then you get a good salary flowing into your account.

 Most of the amateur seafarers remain confused about the taxation system for the income earned, which leads to non filing of tax returns. The income earned on a foreign going vessel, seafarer may not always be tax free (a general assumption). You need to complete the required sea time in a financial year to claim a tax free income else you will be considered under the tax slab for paying the income tax as stated by the government of the country.

Family onboard: 

Before entering to this field, the candidates are single (mostly) and they do not think about the family life they will be experiencing along side of the sailing. A merchant navy officer can take his/her family onboard ship only if allowed by the company or when all the norms of the company are complied. Here “family” for a married person means only the immediate family and not parents. Parents are not allowed to go along with the seafarers. An entry level officer will have a lesser chance to carry his immediate family than a management level officer, which again depends on the number of supernumeraries (family members) already present on ship and the life boat capacity.

Apart from all these points, it is also necessary that an applicant who wants to join marine careers does not have any past criminal record. If a person does have any such record, then he or she will not be eligible to join merchant marine.

Merchant navy is a lucrative career option and for the person who follows all the necessary steps needed to be primarily taken, it is one of the best career options of today’s times. However, as with every field, there are few drawbacks attached with this as well. So choose the career of merchant navy wisely in case you are planning to.

MERCHANT NAVY LIFE ON BOARD

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The life aboard a merchant ship is really a unique and unforgettable experience, very difficult to compare to a land job.

Few jobs offer the chance to see so many places in the world, exotic views and meet so many people from so different countries. Obviously, after such experience, you´ll become a well-rounded and worldly person, and get a better understanding about global problems, people from around the world and their culture and way of life.

Nevertheless, it must be considered that this activity connotes some problems and difficulties, to which applicants must pay attention, and requires doubtless a genuine interest.

In this way, if one gets sea-sick on board, a career in the merchant navy wouldn´t be a good option. Applicants have to be calm and composed persons and not disposed to panic in the case of engine failure, adverse climatological conditions or even severe storms. Likewise, working days are very extensive (8-14 hours a day and 7 days a week) and shifts can be irregular. Finally, this sort of job means long periods in extreme confinement and away from home, friends and relationships.

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Remunerations

Merchant Navy is probably the few careers where the salary is relatively high. It can range about Rs. 5000 to Rs. 4 lakh every month though the pay structure differ from company to company, the export-import desires, seniority etc. all crew and officers get free meals on board and senior officers usually takes along their wives for the voyage. Usually emolument in a international vessels are higher specially inside the West European, U. S plus the Gulf. Every officer and crew on the merchant navy working on board a vessel that's carrying foreign cargo is permitted 75% of his net earning in foreign exchange. Besides this, imported liquor, tobacco, canned foods, cosmetics are on board duty free. They are also entitled to four month leave every year.

Pay & perks in Merchant Navy

 

The pay and perks again depend on company to company. But generally it depends upon the type of the ship, Experience and Competency of an individual. At the starting level a cadet & ratings may get 150-400 US dollar Pm. Among officers a 3rd officer&4th Engineer gets about 1200 – 3000 US dollar, 2nd officer&3rd Engineer 3000 – 4000 US dollar, Chief Officer&2nd Engineer 3000-4500 US dollar and a Chief Engineer & Captain may get 4000-6000 US dollar for month. Masters may draw salaries as high as US $ 8000 to 10000 per month for being on specialized vessels. But again it depends on the company to company. But the advantage of being paid in US dollar is income tax free income.

Physical Fitness and Medical Requirements to Join Merchant Navy

The candidate must be in good mental and physical health and free from any kind of bodily defect to interfere with the efficient performance required at the sea. Read on to find out if you are physically fit to join the merchant navy.

1. Constitution

There should be no evidence of weak constitution by way of imperfect development of muscles or serious malformation. Weight below 42 kg and height below 150 cm will be rejected. The chest should be well developed with a minimum range of expansion of 5 cm.
2. Skeletal System
There should be no disease or impairment of functions of bones or joints, contracture or of deformity of chest or any joint, abnormal curvature of spine, deformity of feet like bow legs, knock knees, flat feet, deformity of upper limbs, malformation of the head, deformity from fractures or depression of the skull, fractures (healed) with a pin inside will be a disqualification.
3. Ear, nose and throat
There should be no impaired hearing, discharge or disease in either ear, unhealed perforation of tympanic membrane or signs of acute or chronic supperative otitis media or evidence of radical mastoid operation, evidence of disease of the bones and cartilage of the nose, nasal polypus or disease of nasopharynx or accessory sinuses. Loss or decay of teeth to such an extent as to interfere with efficient mastication. No disease of the throat, palate, tonsils or gums or any disease or injury affecting the normal function of either temporo mandibular joint. Individuals with severe pyorrhoea are to be rejected.
4. Speech
There should be no impediment of speech (e.g. stammering)
5. Lymphatic System
There should be no enlarged glands, tubercular or due to other diseases in the neck or other parts of the body. Thyroid gland should be normal.
6. Cardiovascular System
There should be no sign of functional or valvular or other disease of the heart and blood vessels. Electrocardiogram should be within normal limits. Systolic blood pressure should not exceed 150mm of Hg nor Diastolic above 90 mm of Hg.
7. Respiratory System
There should be no evidence of chronic or respiratory tract disease, pulmonary tuberculosis or previous history of this disease or any chronic disease of the lungs. X-ray of chest should be normal.
8. Digestive System
There should be no evidence of any disease of the digestive system and that liver and spleen should not be palpable and there should be no abdominal tenderness on palpation.
9. Genitourinary System
There should be no palpable and enlarged kidneys. There should not be any disease of kidneys. Cases showing alburminuria, glycosurea or blood (RBC) in urine will be rejected. There should be no hernia or tendency thereto. Those who have been operated for hernia may be declared fit provided:
(a)  One year has elapsed after the operation. Documentary proof to be produced by the candidate.
(b) General tone of abdominal muscles should be good and
(c) There has been no recurrence of hernia or complications with the operation. There should be no hydrocele, vericocele, spermatocele or any other defect of genital organs, no fistula and/or anal fissure or evidence of hemorrhoids (Piles), rectal polyps. There should be no active latent or congenital venereal diseases, undescended intra abdominal testicle on one side unassociated with hernia, provided the other testicle is normal and that there is no physical or psychological effect due to undescended testicle will be accepted. Undescended testicle is retained in inguinal canal or at the extra abdominal ring will be rejected.
10. Skin
There should be no skin disease unless temporary or trival. Scars which by their extent or position are likely to cause disability or marked disfigurement are a cause for rejection.
11. Nervous System
There should be no history or evidence of mental disease of the candidate or in his family. Candidates having history of fits in continence or urine or enuresis will not be accepted. Mental or nervous irritability, abnormality of gait, defective functions of cranial nerves, inco-ordination, motor or sensory defaults will be rejected.
12. Eye Sight
There should not be any degree of squint or any morbid condition of eyes or of the eyelids that is liable to aggravate or recur, pressure of trachome and iris complication sequela. Candidates must possess good binocular vision (fusion faculty and full field of vision in both eyes). Movement of the eyeballs must be full in all directions and the pupils should react normally to light and accommodation.
The vision should be 6/6 (normal) in each eye separately. Defective colour vision tested by Ishihara Colour Blindness Test is a disqualification.
13. Any other defect which in the opinion of the medical board will interfere with the individual’s efficiency as an officer of the merchant navy.
Note: The Above Information is provided by the Directorate General of Shipping, Merchant Shipping Act 1958.

Career at Sea?? WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS JOBS?

Since forever, ships at sea have beckoned the particular brave and adventurous. career that may fetch such high salaries at a really young age that the Vendor Navy offers. Unfortunately, the knowledge as regards to "What is Merchant Navy & How do i join it? " still remains the privilege of few people who already have relatives and friends with this industry. With this in background, in this section we would like to tell you all about job in Merchant Navy. The delivers today are highly sophisticated in addition to technology intensive. Safety and efficiency in the ship are crucial and is determined by the professional ability, competence in addition to dedication to duty, of any seafarer, on board ship. Normally, a seafarer is expected to be highly professional for the safe and efficient operation in the ship. The training in India will be of exceptionally high standards along with the Indian seafarers are essentially the most sought after commodity in the particular shipping industry worldwide. Needless to state that an Indian seafarer calls for and does gets highly paid out. The attraction of riches with this profession has been subject of several a folklore. Even today, the situation remains about the same, except that today the ships are a great deal more safer than they were inside times of Vasco-da-Gamma and Columbus. Nowadays, there is hardly any  WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS JOBS? (a)    Deck Officer- The officers from this branch primarily look after the particular ships navigation, loading/unloading of cargo and also the general maintenance and administration with the ship. The officer joins from the rank of 3rd officer which is subsequently promoted to the status of 2nd officer, Chief Officer lastly the Master of the dispatch. Off course, the promotions are at the mercy of the individual passing his competency exams and his performance note of the ship. In addition in order to navigation duties, normally a 3rd officer deals with the life saving appliances, 2nd officer the passage planning and also the navigation equipment, the Chief Officer deals with the cargo work and the Master will be the overall in-charge of the dispatch.  (b)    Engineering Officer - They are the officer who are certified in Marine Engineering. They join as 4th Engineer and in depth, get promoted to 3rd, next and Chief Engineer, subject on their passing the competency exams as well as performance on board the ship. The Engineering department along with looking after the main motors, are also responsible for affiliated equipment like power generation products, cargo pumps and air - conditioning etc. The4the Engineer is liable for operation and maintenance of power plant room auxiliaries. The 3rd professional for fuel, water and the boiler room equipment. The 2nd engineer for lubricating the machine, engine room auxiliaries, and electric powered equipment. In addition, there is definitely an electrical officer, who is accountable for the electrical equipment. (c)    Radio Officers - The air Officers looks after all the electronic communication and the related records. In addition, he also manages electronic navigation aids such as radar, depth measuring devices, lengthy range navigation equipment and worldwide positioning system etc. However, this family of personnel has been almost phased out and their duties passed to other deck officers. To be qualified as Radio Officer an individual have to do a two week GMDSS program. (e)    Purser - They are an officer who looks after all the administrative work related to cover and perks of personnel on-ship. However, this category of personnel has additionally been almost phased out and their duties passed to the site other deck officers. (f)    Ratings  - You'll find three kinds of ratings : deck, engine room and catering. Deck rating is responsible for cargo handling, mooring/ UN mooring and general maintenance with the ship. Similarly the engine space ratings assist the engineering authorities in maintenance and operation involving engines and associated equipment. The catering crew involves Steward / Cooks and for the reason that name suggests, they look after the catering and the house retaining of officers cabin.