Graduate Marine Engineering

Merchant Navy

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Shipping is the backbone of international trade, carrying over 90% by volume and 80% by value of the world trade. Without shipping, the import and export of goods on the scale necessary for the modern world would not be possible. There are over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, transporting most kinds of cargo. India is a large manpower supplier to the international shipping industry especially in the officers segment and is reputed for providing highly qualified and well trained personnel to work on foreign owned merchant ships.

Expert opinion and statistical forecast suggests that Indian Officers will continue to be in demand in the foreseeable future. Merchant Navy is a rewarding career, both financially and professionally. The nature of a job at sea presents unmatched demands and challenges, providing a fulfilling career choice. Self reliance and resourcefulness will become a part of your personality. You will be required to employ both your theoretical knowledge and practical skills to meet the challenges of the sea. Life at sea can be tough. The work is strenuous and physically demanding. The benefits however, include a satisfaction as an officer, working on a globalized platform, of being a world traveler, a very handsome salary and a sense of belongingness to one of the finest global professions and truly international perspective.

Career growth in Merchant Navy as an Engineer officer

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The carrier of a Marine Engineer begins with GME course, after the 1 year course the candidate will get Part-A certificate of Class-4 exam. Then he will have to collect his CDC ( Continuous Discharge Certificate ), this will make him eligible to join a ship and from here the journey begins.

This is a flowchart of the ladder a candidate has to climb to reach to the post of a Chief Engineer once he compeletes his GME course :

If everything goes well then one can become a chief engineer in 8-10 years.The journey will be dangerous, dirty, difficult the 3-D's of Marine Engineering but the journey will be worth it.

How to get sponsored?

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Sponsorship exams will be conducted by companies for interested candidates, the information about the exam dates can be obtained from the companies website. A candidate must make up his mind early during his B.E/ B.Tech to opt for this profession or not. As I said, attitude matters. If there are no exam dates mentioned in the company website, then you may mail the company requesting them to offer you sponsorship. I will be putting up how to draft a professional mail. Once the company agrees to give you a interview date, then you are on your way.

Some of the companies which offer Sponsorship :

Make sure you check the company websites time to time for sponsorship examination dates. Companies normally prefer candidates having one or more family members in the Merchant Navy. It is not a compulsion though, if the candidate is capable and has the right attitude required for a job on-board then he will get through.

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What is Sponsorship?

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GME sponsorship basically means a job guarantee. The basic qualification for GME is B.E/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Graduate Marine Engineering is like a post graduation in Marine Engineering, it is a 1 year course consisting of theory and practicals.
Getting sponsored for GME by a shipping company means that you will be guaranteed a job as a Fifth engineer on-board after the GME program. Nowadays many companies provide sponsorship for eligible candidates. The eligibility criteria varies from company to company, some companies prefer candidates with high grades and some might select an average candidate. The main criteria for sponsorship is attitude, this is what the field demands. If ones attitude is not proper, then its time to shift to another job.
Sponsorship exams are conducted by companies on a regular basis. Sponsorship exam generally consits of :

Preliminary rounds ( Aptitude, Logical reasoning, English, Mechanical )
Personal interview ( This will be purely Mechanical based, interview will be taken by a Chief Engg. )
Psychometric Analysis ( Mental state of a candidate)
Medical Examination

If these four rounds are cleared then a candidate will be given a sponsorship letter for pursuing GME course.