The merchant navy is made up of civilians who transport cargo as well as passengers in non-combatant and commercial ships. It is comprised of two main divisions that is – Navigation and Engineering. Navigation officers look after the safe movement of the ship, loading and off-loading of cargo and radio communication. These are the most necessary things that they have to look after. The titanic ship sank because of careless Navigation officers. You can imagine how important role a Navigation Officer plays entire his life.
The hierarchy of Navigation officer is as follows -
1. Master or Captain
2. Chief Officer
3. Second Officer
4. Third Officer
5. Deck Cadet
These Navigation officers also work in shipping companies, sea ports, marine logistics companies, container terminals, marine insurance and chartering companies.
Qualifications
If you are planning to study Marine Navigation, then you need to pass 12th class with compulsory subjects (Maths, Chemistry, Physics, English). After that, you can go for a three year B.Sc. nautical science course by clearing the IIT joint entrance exam followed by a medical exam and counselling for getting admission.
If you are not interested in B.Sc nautical science course, then you can go for DNS program me – one year pre-sea training at an institute, followed by 18 months training on ship. To enrol, one has to pass the common entrance test of the Indian Maritime University.
There is another alternative that you can opt for – an entrance test of private institutes or any shipping company. To work as a Deck cadet and for further promotions, you must clear exams conducted by the ministry of shipping. One can rise to the rank of master in 6-8 years after the completion of their second mate examination.
Institutes
Indian Maritime University
Directorate General of Shipping
Skills Needed
1. You have to be physically and mentally tough because you are away from home for long periods. You have risk at sea and you have to take care of all the people travelling in a ship. Also, you will be responsible in case of any accident.
2. You must have leadership qualities.
3. Have an aptitude for people and material management.
4. Be adaptive and willing to live with people from different religion and countries in limited area of ship.
5. You have to stay away from your family and relatives for long period of time.
Job Description
The life of a Chief Officer is very hectic on the board. I will tell you what you will be doing on a ship if you are a Chief Officer -
Your day doesn’t starts from 9 or 10 in the morning like other jobs. You have to be on board at 4 a.m. and check the maps and ship’s navigation. After watching all such things. You can finally have breakfast at 8.30 a.m.
After a one hour break, at 9.30 a.m, you have to do paper works on daily maintenance. You have to check all necessary details for maintaining a ship.
There is a tea break from 11.30 a.m to 11.45 a.m and after that you have to resume your work.
At 12.30 p.m, you can have lunch and take a nap in cabin till 4 p.m. And then, you have to take records of ship’s movement.
At 6p.m, you have to take dinner. From 6.30p.m to 8p.m, you need to finish all your pending work and resume watch on the ship’s navigation.
At 8p.m, you can do what you want!
Salary
Deck Cadet – 350 USD to 450 USD
Third Officer – 2000 USD to 3500 USD
Second Officer – 3500 USD to 5000 USD
Chief Officer – 5000 USD to 9000 USD
Captain – 9000 USD to 14,000 USD
Salary package vary for different ships. Highest is for gas tankers followed by chemical tankers, oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers.
Pros – Adventurous job, travel around the world, international exposure, learn different culture, high salary package, you gain respect in society.
Cons – stay away from home, work about 6 months on sailing ships at a stretch and rest for 4 months, environment at times is not comfortable, sailing for days can be physically and mentally exhausting.
The hierarchy of Navigation officer is as follows -
1. Master or Captain
2. Chief Officer
3. Second Officer
4. Third Officer
5. Deck Cadet
These Navigation officers also work in shipping companies, sea ports, marine logistics companies, container terminals, marine insurance and chartering companies.
Qualifications
If you are planning to study Marine Navigation, then you need to pass 12th class with compulsory subjects (Maths, Chemistry, Physics, English). After that, you can go for a three year B.Sc. nautical science course by clearing the IIT joint entrance exam followed by a medical exam and counselling for getting admission.
If you are not interested in B.Sc nautical science course, then you can go for DNS program me – one year pre-sea training at an institute, followed by 18 months training on ship. To enrol, one has to pass the common entrance test of the Indian Maritime University.
There is another alternative that you can opt for – an entrance test of private institutes or any shipping company. To work as a Deck cadet and for further promotions, you must clear exams conducted by the ministry of shipping. One can rise to the rank of master in 6-8 years after the completion of their second mate examination.
Institutes
Indian Maritime University
Directorate General of Shipping
Skills Needed
1. You have to be physically and mentally tough because you are away from home for long periods. You have risk at sea and you have to take care of all the people travelling in a ship. Also, you will be responsible in case of any accident.
2. You must have leadership qualities.
3. Have an aptitude for people and material management.
4. Be adaptive and willing to live with people from different religion and countries in limited area of ship.
5. You have to stay away from your family and relatives for long period of time.
Job Description
The life of a Chief Officer is very hectic on the board. I will tell you what you will be doing on a ship if you are a Chief Officer -
Your day doesn’t starts from 9 or 10 in the morning like other jobs. You have to be on board at 4 a.m. and check the maps and ship’s navigation. After watching all such things. You can finally have breakfast at 8.30 a.m.
After a one hour break, at 9.30 a.m, you have to do paper works on daily maintenance. You have to check all necessary details for maintaining a ship.
There is a tea break from 11.30 a.m to 11.45 a.m and after that you have to resume your work.
At 12.30 p.m, you can have lunch and take a nap in cabin till 4 p.m. And then, you have to take records of ship’s movement.
At 6p.m, you have to take dinner. From 6.30p.m to 8p.m, you need to finish all your pending work and resume watch on the ship’s navigation.
At 8p.m, you can do what you want!
Salary
Deck Cadet – 350 USD to 450 USD
Third Officer – 2000 USD to 3500 USD
Second Officer – 3500 USD to 5000 USD
Chief Officer – 5000 USD to 9000 USD
Captain – 9000 USD to 14,000 USD
Salary package vary for different ships. Highest is for gas tankers followed by chemical tankers, oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers.
Pros – Adventurous job, travel around the world, international exposure, learn different culture, high salary package, you gain respect in society.
Cons – stay away from home, work about 6 months on sailing ships at a stretch and rest for 4 months, environment at times is not comfortable, sailing for days can be physically and mentally exhausting.