Introduction to Merchant Navy

Since time immemorial ships at sea have beckoned the brave and adventurous. The Merchant Navy offers a career in commercial transportation on the seas. It offers an adventurous and glamorous career. Many countries have their own Merchant fleets, Transporting Cargo and Passengers from one part of the world to another.

The opportunity to travel around the world and the lure of adventure around the seas, besides the possibility of high remunerations attracts many youngsters to make a career in the Merchant Navy.

Merchant Navy career is not only monetarily rewarding but also satisfying and a bit challenging. The merchant navy ships employ a huge number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one country to another.

Modern ships are technologically advanced and require seafarers to have a vide range of expertise, depending on their position on board, from basic practical to complex management, Technical and organizational skills. There is no bar to women serving at sea, and there are female captains and chief engineers.

 Job Prospects

Merchant Navy is different from the navy in the sense that it offers commercial services, as opposed to the navy which is largely involved in the defence of a nation. There are enormous employment opportunities in this field. Candidates who have finished the basic course can get a job very easily. Placement may be found on various types of ships such as tankers, cargo, bulk carriers, passengers etc.

 Remuneration

Merchant Navy is one of the few careers where the salary hardly matters. It can range anywhere between Rs.10,000.00 to Rs.6 lakhs per month though the salary structure differs from Company to Company ,country to country, the import export needs, seniority etc.

All crew members and officers present on the ship are given free meals and senior officers can take along their wives for the voyage. Beside this many other things like imported liquor, canned foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. The salary earned by the crew is tax free.