CAREER GUIDE
The call of the seas
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Want to join a profession that is wedded to the seas? Enter the Merchant Navy and set sail on an adventurous path.
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FOR those whose first love is travel and adventure, a career at the Merchant Navy provides ample scope. They can be assured of excellent pay and promising promotional opportunities.
In India we have a maritime tradition. Nautical Training Ship `Chanakya' T.S. Chanakya Institute, previously called T.S. Rajendra, offers maritime education and training to aspiring navigating officers. It offers a three-year training in Nautical Science. Followed by this is a year's practical training in the deck of a merchant ship. The syllabus is designed to give a broad understanding of marine education, with special focus on the fundamentals of marine subjects and practical aspects. The institute is affiliated to the University of Bombay. The subjects include English, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Electronic Computer science and Marine Management. Topics such as ship operation technology and other applied subjects as maritime commerce, maritime engineering, environmental science and control systems are also taught.
Another institute that also contributes to this field a great deal is the Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI). Known as the directorate of Marine Engineering earlier, it is headquartered in Calcutta, and offers a 4-year marine engineering education.
Admission requirements to get into T. S. Chanakya and MERI: Candidates, male or female, should be below 20 years of age, have passed their Plus-Two with Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics as electives. Authorised medical officials examine the incumbents for proof of adequate physical fitness. Selection is based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted by the IIT. A merit list is prepared after the written test and interview. The Director General of Shipping is the authority to decide which of the two training courses the candidate is best suited for after considering the preference of the student.
There are also a few private institutes offering various courses for a career in the sea: Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Chennai. Email: amet@vsnl.com; National Institute of Port Management, Uthandi, Chennai; Vel's College of Maritime Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai; International Maritime Institute, Greater Noida, U.P., and the Tolani Maritime Institute, Erandawane, Pune (Email: tmi@pn3.vsnl.net.in).
The Tolani Maritime Institute, Induri, in collaboration with the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, under the Off-Campus Distance Learning and Collaborative Programmes, offers a four-year (two semesters each year) residential bachelor of science in marine engineering. The eligibility and admission procedure is the same as elsewhere. Here learning Spanish is a must as they will have to deal with Philippine workmen (they speak Spanish) on the deck.
Scope for employment
The development of new technology and better equipment has led to increase in the shipping business. Manpower shortage in the marine professions has resulted in many foreign and Indian shipping companies recruiting more and more people.
Employment opportunities exist in government and private shipping companies such as the Shipping Corporation of India, the National and International Civil Aviation Industries, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Post-retirement, these officers are in demand for consultation. Some even venture into allied fields like ship care and maintenance. Some may also take up a job on port or dock. Students are employed even by the time they finish their course.
Other Courses
Rating Traning: There are three centres for training of ratings, T.S. Bhadra, Calcutta, T.S. Mekhala, Vishakapatnam, and T.S. Navalakshi. The training course is of 3 months duration.
Training for Radio officers: Certificate of Competency Examination is conducted under the aegis of Wireless Advisor to the Government of India. A candidate wanting to become a marine radio officer has to acquire his academic degree from any institution providing training in radio communication.
Post-Sea training: Merchant Navy personnel have to clear examination to move on to the next position. This training is imparted at Lal Bahadur Shastri Nautical and Engineering College, Hay Bunder Reay Road, Mumbai.
Merchant Navy is one of the few careers where the salary is relatively high. It can range anywhere between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 8 lakhs per month, though the pay structure differ from company to company, city to city, the export-import needs and seniority.
All crew and officers are given free meals on board and senior officers can take along their wives on voyage.
Life in Merchant Navy can be adventurous as well as subject oneself to seasickness time and again. For all those with wanderlust, the long period of solitude, notwithstanding, the opportunity to see the world and get paid well while doing so, just cannot be argued away.
Lalithasai
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