Merchant Navy

The pay depends upon the type of the ship, educational qualification, job title, job description, experience and competency of an individual. The statistics show that if the remuneration is paid by an Indian shipping company varies from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 8 lacs a month. On a foreign vessel, remuneration varies from US $ 2500 to US $ 15,000 per month.

Merchant Navy plays a very important role in import – export business. Without merchant navy, international trade would come to an stand still. It is growing industry offering hard working and qualified people with opportunities in navigation, engineering and catering & hospitality. There are numerous government and private shipping companies which hire officers for the deck, engine and service departments. The foreign shipping companies offer better pay packages.

Merchant navy offers opportunities for promotion, which are dependent on clearing the requisite competency exams conducted by the Ministry of Surface Transport for all navigating officers and marine engineers. After retirement, merchant navy people can return to land and work for Cargo and insurance surveyors, marine superintendents of shipping companies, pilots of ships at ports or lecturer in maritime education/ training academics.

Many fascinating people who have a navy background and have excelled in their field they were researchers, designers, explorers and also inventors.

Martin Behaim (1459-1537) - Mapmaker, navigator, and merchant who made the earliest globe, called the Nurnberg Terrestrial Globe.

John Elder was a Scottish marine engineer and shipbuilder. He was born at Glasgow on 8 March 1824. Elder was a leader in marine architecture and steamship construction and headed an engineering operation. The firm of millwrights, later renamed John Elder & Co, moved into shipbuilding and 111 sets of steam engines were built at the Fairfield yard during Elder's time.

A typical day would vary with the function but essentially the ship has to navigate the passage and the cargo/ passengers have to reach safely. For some it can include surveying the underwater pipe lines or connections to the new oil platforms while for some it would include the routine maintenance of the marine engines.

Oil tankers and many container ships are very large and sometimes cannot fit on the harbor so they remain away from the port. So, one can be in the water for months together. Usually the schedules are hectic and there isn't much time for relaxation. But as they say no day is ever the same for a merchant navy officer!

In case Merchant Navy as a career option does not seem to be a good career fit then you can always explore career options that are listed on MapMyTalent

Also one must always remember to take Aptitude Test and Personality Test to find which careers are suitable and fitting well for the person.

You may also like to read up on other such careers as:

Career as an Indian Navy Officer

Career as an Indian Airforce Officer

Career as an Indian Army Officer

IAS Officer as a career

Naval Architect and Ocean Engineer