Merchant Navy: An Introduction

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Merchant Navy: An Introduction
Functional Set up
Entry as Officers
Functions and Responsibilities of Officers
Examination Rules
Opportunities in Home Trade Zone

Merchant Navy, in a simpler way, can be defined as a commercial fleet handling cargo to far off countries located in different directions of the globe. As an introduction, it need not be emphasised that efficient transport by sea is an important mode of transportation, particularly for countries with an outlet to the sea.

Indian Merchant Navy comprises passenger vessels, cargo liners, tankers, ore carriers and other types of specialised ships. These ships are operated by public and private sector shipping companies and manned by trained navigators, marine engineers and crews.

As such the Merchant Navy offers numerous jobs: technical as well as non-technical. In the upper hierarchy, generally the technical and well trained people find avenues while the lower positions are filled with non-technical workers.

However, the job in the Merchant Navy involves travelling for considerably longer durations, the life of those who work here is distinctly different from most other professions. Basically, irrespective of the level of responsibility, only the people with the following personal attributes find it charming enough to work in the Merchant Navy.

The essential qualities include (i) a great flair for long journeys by sea; (ii) despite being away from their near and dear ones for months, they should not never tend to be homesick; (iii) Ability to take up risk as the journey is not without perils.
Of course, to get into the Merchant Navy, one has to acquire the requisite educational and technical qualifications which have been discussed under the relevent sections. As far as the returns are concerned, these are obviously higher and quite lucrative.


In addition to a good pay packet, food, entertainment, sports, and suchlike facilities are also provided. At the same time, it is relevant to add here that the jobs are offered mostly on contract basis. However, of late, some of the companies have started offering permanent jobs as well. One has to keep oneself physically and professionally efficient to be in demand by the employers always.


As on date, there is reportedly a shortage of over 10,000 Merchant navy officers in international basis and it is estimated to go up in the future. As in most of the other fields today, the Indian officers have to be competitively efficient as compared officers from other countries.
The responsibility for adequate training of personnel for the Indian Merchant Navy lies with Government of India functioning through the Ministry of Surface Transport.
Accordingly a number of training institutions under the direct administrative control of the Directorate General of Shipping has been established.