Getting shipshape for a sailing career

Updated on: Tuesday, November 02, 2010

We had described the functions of five units of the Indian Maritime University. There are two more of them. We would mention those and then move over to the diverse channels of merchant navy education.

Indian Institute of Port Management

The Indian Institute of Port Management conducts training, consultancy and research for the port and maritime sector. It is attached to the Indian maritime university.

The port wing conducts training programmes on various areas of port operation and management. The marine wing conducts post-sea modular and competency courses for maritime personnel. The project wing undertakes consultancy and research work in the maritime field. The institute offers one-year PG diploma courses on three different subjects as also a wide variety of courses on subjects such as First Mate (FG) Phase I and Phase II, GMDSS (GOC: General Operator Certificate), Master FG Advanced Ship Board, MEO Class II and Class IV, Second Mate (FG) foundation Course, Second Mate (FG) competency course, Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA), Tanker Advance Training – oil, and revalidation course for engineer officers.

Contact: Indian Institute of Port Management (IIPM), Subhas Bhavan, 2nd Floor, 40, Circular Garden Beach Road, Kolkata 700 043; Ph: 033 2439 4123; e-mail: [email protected].

NSDRC

NSDRC, which is a part of the Indian Maritime University, promotes and develops design and research activities in shipping and shipbuilding. It aims at improving efficiency and productivity in shipbuilding and shipping sectors.

The centre promotes the development of maritime standards in the fields of ship design and construction. There are consultancy and training programs in various fields connected with shipping, shipbuilding and other maritime activities. It provides fine infrastructural facilities including technical documentation to cater to the information needs of research scholars.

Contact: National Ship Design and Research Centre, Gandhigram, Visakhapatnam - 530 005. Tel : (0891) 257 8360 / 257 8364. Fax : (0891) 257 7754; e-mail: [email protected].

We had listed the institutions under the control of the Indian Maritime University, Chennai. IMU usually issues a common notification for admission to the following five programmes:

Three-year course leading to B.Sc. (Nautical Science) Degree at T. S. Chanakya, Navi Mumbai

Four-year B. Tech. (Marine Engineering) Degree course at MERI, Kolkata,

Four-year B. Tech. (Marine Engineering) Degree course at National Maritime Academy, Chennai

Three-year Polyvalent B.Sc. (Maritime Science) Degree course at MERI, Mumbai

Four-year B. Tech. (Naval architecture & Ocean Engineering) degree course at National Ship Design and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam

The ranking is decided on the basis of the scores obtained in IIT JEE, as hinted earlier. However, you have to fill up a separate application form issued by the Indian Maritime University, apart from that for IIT JEE.

The Government of India offers a 100 per cent fee waiver to girl cadets joining B.Sc. (Nautical Science) / B.Sc. (Maritime Science) / B.Tech. (Marine Engineering) courses. However, it is advisable that girls carefully assess the working condition on board the ships before they launch their career in merchant navy.

IMU, Cochin

The Cochin campus of IMU conducts a postgraduate diploma in marine engineering (PGDME). This diploma programme was formerly known as One year Pre-Sea Marine Engineering Training.

Those who have a B.Tech. (mechanical or naval architecture) degree with not less than 50 per cent marks in final year, and at least 50 per cent marks in English in 10th or 12th standard can apply for admission. The selection is made based on B.Tech. marks and performance in an interview.

Address: Willingdon Island, Cochin – 682 003; Ph: 0484 – 2668642; e-mail: [email protected]; Website : www.imu.tn.nic.in.

The programme is available in the following institutions under IMU.

MERI Mumbai

International Maritime Institute, 13, Knowledge Park I, Surajpur Kasna Road , Greater Noida – 201310; Ph:0120 232 6311

Anglo Eastern Maritime Training Centre, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400069: Ph: 022 26837007

Maritime Foundation, Numgambakkam, Chennai - 600 034; Ph: 044 28236869

Chidambaram Institute of Maritime Technology, Kalpakkam - 603 102; Ph: 044-3740 5665

CV Raman College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar - 752 054; Ph: 0674 2460093

Lateral entry

Candidates who have passed diploma in mechanical engineering from recognised institutions with a first class degree (60 per cent marks) will be considered for admission to the second year B.Tech. marine engineering programme through lateral entry in the constituent units of Indian Maritime University and affiliated colleges.

Contact: The Academic Section, Indian Maritime University, East Coast Road, Uthandi, Chennai-600 119; Ph: 044 24530343; e-mail: [email protected].

So far our discussion was limited to training facilities offered by institutions under the control of Indian Maritime University, Chennai. Now let us consider comprehensively the paths that would lead us to positions as merchant navy officers.

We shall summarise the styles for growing to positions as officers in merchant navy.

The ‘Ship's Master' is in charge of the ship. A deck officer starts his career as a Trainee Navigating Officer (Cadet), rising to the level of Captain (Ship's Master). An engine officer begins as a Junior Engineer, and gradually rises up to Chief Engineer. Promotions are subject to the candidate's completing the stipulated “sea-time”, and passing the competency certificate examinations conducted by DG Shipping. Whatever is the path chosen by a candidate, he has to get trained in institutions recognised by DGS. The norms stipulated by the DGS have to be followed.

Path 1

Candidates with 10+2 (PCM), appear for IIT-JEE. They can take the following paths:

Nautical Officer: three-year B.Sc. (Nautical Sciences)

Engineer Officer: Four-year marine engineering degree

Polyvalent Officer: Three-year B.Sc. (Maritime Science) degree (Only limited opportunities for this training)

Qualified candidates are selected by shipping companies. Often, there would be campus recruitment that liberates the graduates from the hassle of job applications and follow-up.

Path 2

SCI: Training offered by the Shipping Corporation Of India Ltd, Shipping House, 245, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai – 400 021; Ph : 022-22026666, www.shipindia.com.

We can embark on a career at sea either as a Trainee Navigating Officer (TNOC) or a Trainee Marine Engineer (TME).

Engineer Officers: For Junior Marine Engineers, SCI recruits B.Tech. (mechanical / naval architecture). There will be notifications for recruitment periodically.

Path 3

Cochin Shipyard Limited, Cochin - 682 015; Ph. 0484-2361181; e-mail: training@

cochinshipyard.com, Web: http://cochinshipyard.com/training.html.

The Marine Engineering Training Institute, located in the Shipyard premises, conducts the one-year GME course that prepares candidates as Junior Marine Engineer Officers. Graduates in mechanical engineering / naval architecture with at least 50 per cent marks in final year can apply for admission. Further, they should have scored a minimum of 50 per cent marks in English in 10th stan

Getting shipshape for a sailing career

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