Career in Merchant Navy

Do you enjoy sailing? Do you enjoy travelling through the means of water? If yes, explore the career options of the Merchant navy.
The primary responsibility of the merchant navy is goods transportation. Merchant navy officer is responsible for the accurate transportation of the goods from onshore to others. The merchant navy’s responsibility is to trade commercial goods like food, oil and chemicals.
It might be a job of months at a stretch. The positive side of this job is that one gets to travel around the world.
A merchant navy handles a range of responsibilities.
A deck officer is responsible for keeping updated with the GPS, weather conditions, constant navigation of the ship through radar.
A navy officer is responsible for loading and unloading of the cargo, for the administrative work on the ship or training the new employees.
Example: Some famous merchant ships are:
- NS Savannah: It was the first nuclear-powered merchant ship
- Al Barrah, British Diamond, Flanders Loyalty, Gaz Venezia, and Jag Vijaya are few of the gas carrier merchant ships.
- MCP Altona, Osaka Express, SS American Victory, and SS Band are few of the cargo ships.
What are the roles and responsibilities for Merchant Navy Officer?
- The merchant navy officer operates and maintains the mechanical and electrical equipment on board.
- They manage power generation and distribution systems, as well as refrigeration plant, ventilation and pumping systems.
- They monitor, repair and upgrade systems and equipment, e.g. air compressors, pumps and sewage plants.
- Implement regular equipment inspections and maintenance programmes.
- Keep up to date with developments in the marine engineering field.
- Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
- Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.
- Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
- Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises.
- Act as liaisons between ships’ captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained,
- Ensure that ships operate safely and efficiently.
- They work as a Marine Consultant, Marine Design Engineer, Marine Engineer, Marine Engineering Consultant, Marine Surveyor, Project Engineer, Propulsion Machinery Service Engineer and Ships Equipment Engineer.
How to Become a Merchant Navy Officer in India?
There are 2 ways to become a Merchant Navy Officer in India


What are the key skills required for Merchant Navy?
- Decision-making skills
- Mathematical ability
- Knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems (for engineer officer roles)
- Engineering designs
- People management skills
What are the career opportunities in Merchant Navy?
- Marine Design Engineer
- Marine Engineer
- Marine Engineering Consultant
- Marine Surveyor
- Project Engineer
- Propulsion Machinery Service Engineer
- Ships Equipment Engineer
- Marine Consultant
What is the salary and demand for Merchant Navy Officer?
- Demand is High for Merchant Navy.
- Salary levels are High for Merchant Navy. For fresher average salary is more than 5 Lacs.
- Fees levels of the course is High. To pursue this course student need to spend more than 5 Lakhs.
- Level of preparation for Merchant Navy is Medium. Students spend 1 Year. to prepare for entrance test of Merchant Navy.
What are the best entrance exam for Merchant Navy in India?
For Graduation
- Joint Entrance Exam Main-JEE Main 2021
- Joint Entrance Examination Advanced-JEE Advanced 2021
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering-GATE 2021
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test-BITSAT 2021
- Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical Entrance Examination-KEAM 2021
- Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination-VITEEE 2021
- Telangana State Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test-TS EAMCET 2021
- Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka Under Graduate Entrance Test-COMEDK UGET 2021
- Odisha Joint Entrance Examination-OJEE 2021
- Rajasthan Polytechnic Exam-Rajasthan Polytechnic Exam 2021
For Post Graduation
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering-GATE 2021
- Odisha Joint Entrance Examination-OJEE 2021
- Telangana State Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test-TS PGECET 2021
- Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam-UPSEE 2021
- Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test-TANCET 2021
- Andhra Pradesh Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test-AP PGECET 2021
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test-IPU CET 2021
- Punjab University Combined Entrance Test-PU CET 2021
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies Design Aptitude Test-UPES DAT 2021
- Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test-HPCET 2021