Merchant Navy Officer

Completion of 12th class is required in joining the Merchant Navy. Candidates can join the courses offered like B.E/B.Tech in Marine Engineering or B.Sc. in Nautical Science or a DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science). After completing the course, he needs to clear entrance examinations like IMU CET for Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test or exams conducted by various shipping companies. You also need to meet their physical and medical standards. You can apply for jobs on ships after you have completed your necessary training from a recognised maritime institute. Keep checking for admission notifications and entrance exam details.

Yes, you can get into the merchant navy as an Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) also if you join directly into the second year of the Diploma course. You require a Diploma or degree in Electrical, Electronics, Telecommunication, or related fields from any recognised institution, with minimum marks of 50%–60% and with at least 50% in English in your 10th or 12th standard exam. Your Diploma must be accepted by the DG Shipping or appropriate authorities. The candidate should undertake a pre-sea ETO training course approved by the DG Shipping, with a medical fitness certificate that covers standard vision and color vision. Ideally, you should fall in the 18- to 35-year-old age group. Upon successful completion of training, you need to pass the competency exam and obtain the documentation that would get you the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC). 

It depends on the severity of your eyesight, but you may be eligible to join the Merchant Navy engineering course if you meet the following requirements: Vision: You should have 6/12 vision in each eye, 6/9 in your better eye and 6/18 in your other eye.Color vision: You should not have defective colour vision.Eye movement: Your eyeballs should move fully in all directions.Pupil reaction: Your pupils should react normally to light and accommodation.Squint: You should not have any degree of squint.Eyelid condition: You should not have any morbid condition of your eyelids that is liable to recur or aggravate.Eye pressure: You should not exhibit symptoms of the pressure of trachoma and iris complications.You may also be disqualified if the examining doctors believe that any other deficiency will interfere with your ability to function as an officer in the Merchant Navy. Some say that if you join the Merchant Navy, your company may give you a break if you have a vision issue, since they don't want to lose you as a candidate. 

Even if you have flunked in 2 Science exams twice you can study and join the Merchant Navy as an officer. Your current PCM score of 76 is good enough to start with and bring the desired changes. To become a deck officer one has to undergo a 3-year (link unavailable) B.Sc Nautical Science course, ranging from INR 4,00,000 to INR 6,00,000. You will also require passing the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by IMU- Indian Maritime University. However, you can also complete the 1-year Diploma in Nautical Science which costs between INR 2,00,000 to INR 3,00,000. Upon finishing the course, you should take a Certificate of Competency from the Directorate General of Shipping which takes 12-18 months at sea training plus passing the Officer of the Watch examination.

Yes, Nepalese students indeed have the entry into Indian Merchant Navy. No nationality condition has been placed for taking up any course (s) of training in Indian Merchant Navy; one has to only fulfill educational and medical requirements for that course. For them, Nepali students need to meet the eligibility criteria, depending on the respective courses-open to courses such as 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and mandatory medical fitness certifications.Nepali students might need to visit the appropriate authorities for information regarding visa acquisition and other documentations. They can then apply for jobs in the Indian Merchant Navy, as long as they qualify for deck cadet, engine cadet, and other positions, after finishing their training and gaining certifying documents.