| So you want to join the merchant navy as an | | | | Philippines, India, Croatia, Bangladesh or |
| officer? You've heard all those stories about | | | | some other country. This variety means that |
| being paid to visit foreign countries, | | | | you may not have much in common with them. |
| haven't you? What about the girl in every | | | | You might have to spend time alone in your |
| port stories? And you must have been told | | | | cabin. Can you handle being by yourself? Of |
| about the exciting life we sailors lead, | | | | course, it might be possible that you are |
| right? Are these stories true? Do you think | | | | lucky and you get along with everyone, in |
| you have it in you to sail the high seas? | | | | which case you will enjoy yourself soaking in |
| Well, I am here to tell you about the REAL | | | | the various cultures. Or you could be luckier |
| merchant navy - some of the stories you've | | | | and get to sail with a majority of your |
| heard are true, some are not. I have been | | | | nationality. It all depends on the company |
| sailing for the past 23 years including 8 | | | | you work for. During your leisure time you |
| years as Captain so I am giving you an inside | | | | can watch movies, play indoor games (cards, |
| view.Before we begin, let me first clarify | | | | carom etc), work out in the gym (most ships |
| something, the merchant navy isn't the same | | | | have one) or just relax in your cabin. Most |
| as the Indian navy. Merchant ships carry | | | | companies allow officers to send emails home |
| cargo as the name suggests, we are not the | | | | and receive them. Of course, there are |
| fighting navy. The cargo could be containers, | | | | restrictions on the number and size of emails |
| oil, passengers, animals, bulk ore etc.So | | | | after all, satellites are used for |
| what is the big attraction of the merchant | | | | transmitting/receiving emails. You will get |
| navy? Usually two things come to mind - money | | | | snail mail (conventional paper letters) when |
| and foreign travel. There are other benefits | | | | the ship touches port but usually not more |
| like tax free income, quick promotions and an | | | | than once a month.Now we come to work. Each |
| exciting life. But the money is the main | | | | type of ship requires specialised crew. Each |
| temptation. You get fat pay checks and you | | | | department on board a ship has different |
| don't pay tax (if you stay out of the country | | | | duties - the deck department looks after the |
| for more than 6 months in a financial year). | | | | navigation and loading / discharging of cargo |
| You start earning a big salary at a very | | | | while the engine department looks after |
| young age. To give you an example, the | | | | maintenance of various machines. Life on |
| starting salary for a 22 year old 3rd officer | | | | board every ship is not the same. Some ships |
| or 4th engineer (junior most officers on | | | | are old so you need to work harder to keep |
| board ships) on an oil tanker is be more than | | | | them running. Some ships are newer and are |
| 1500 $ per month (conservatively speaking). | | | | easier to work on. Oil tankers, gas carriers |
| This amount depends on the type of ship and | | | | need special training and experience. |
| the company you join so don't quote me! | | | | Container ships and bulk carriers have |
| Officers normally work on a contract basis. | | | | similarly experienced crew. While at sea, |
| Junior officers do 6 to 9 month contracts, | | | | officers generally do 4 on 8 off - 4 hours |
| while senior officers do 3 to 6 months on | | | | duty and 8 hours off. This does not mean that |
| board. Remember that you get paid ONLY when | | | | after you finish your 4 hours of duty, you |
| you are on board. So technically, your salary | | | | can go to sleep. No, you might have to work |
| is half of what you are said to get. Why do | | | | on other things like maintenance of machinery |
| ship owners pay you so much? There has to be | | | | equipment. Normally officers and crew work 10 |
| a catch, right? The catch is, you stay away | | | | hour days. This is a general statement and is |
| from home for extended periods of time. In | | | | not a hard and fast rule. Work loads increase |
| fact you spend most of your time at sea | | | | considerably, when ships are in port. |
| rather than on land. Sure you get to visit | | | | Officers and crew are on watches throughout |
| foreign countries but things have changed | | | | the day and night. There is no weekend for |
| now. Its not as if you reach a port and | | | | them - there is no such thing as a public |
| everyone goes ashore.Work continues with | | | | holiday. If one officer falls sick, then the |
| every officer / crew member working in shifts | | | | other officers on board share his duties |
| (watches as we call them). You are free to go | | | | until he is fit again. Normally ships do not |
| ashore once you have completed your watch but | | | | carry doctors on board unless you are on a |
| don't forget that you have to come back from | | | | passenger ship. Ships carry medicines and all |
| your shore leave and work again. So, you | | | | officers are trained for first aid / medical |
| either sleep or you go ashore. Work on a | | | | emergencies. Whenever ships touch port, |
| ship, never stops. As long as the ship is | | | | medical treatment can be provided |
| doing something - sailing, loading / | | | | ashore.Another aspect to think about is the |
| discharging cargo, it's making money for the | | | | weather. Ships do run into bad weather (read |
| ship owner. Port stays have gone down | | | | storms). Even the biggest ship is but a toy |
| considerably so the ship is in port for a | | | | when up against the fury of the sea. Sea |
| short time. Of course, this depends on the | | | | sickness is not something to be scoffed at. |
| type of ship you are on. Container ships are | | | | Before you take up a career at sea you had |
| in port for a few hours (YES few hours), oil | | | | better make sure that you don't get sea sick. |
| tankers for 24 hrs, cargo ships and bulk | | | | Take a trip on a boat to get the feel of |
| carriers stay longer in port. Watches in port | | | | things.Right...now you are aware of various |
| are usually on a 6 on 6 off basis, 6 hours on | | | | aspects of the merchant navy, money, foreign |
| duty, 6 hours off duty, and then you are back | | | | travel, life on board, work and rest hours, |
| to work. Hence you cannot go ashore in every | | | | medical facilities, weather etc. What? You |
| port because you need to rest sometime. The | | | | still want to join the merchant navy? Bravo!! |
| ship owner is paying you to stay on board, | | | | We need guys just like you - guys who join |
| not to go ashore! Its not all bad news, you | | | | with their eyes open, guys who don't have |
| do get to go ashore and do some shopping and | | | | wrong ideas about a career at sea. So how do |
| maybe sight seeing. Ports are normally far | | | | you go about joining the merchant navy? |
| away from civilization. Travelling to and fro | | | | Information is available on the net. In |
| takes up time and is not cheap.With visa | | | | addition, you can keep an eye out for |
| restrictions post 9/11, many countries will | | | | advertisements in major newspapers.A word of |
| not let you stay back for a holiday after you | | | | caution, don't be in a hurry to hand over |
| complete your tenure on your ship. So now you | | | | money to some agent who assures you of a job |
| know why the ship owner pays you so much. You | | | | at sea. Check his credentials; check the |
| are being paid for staying away from family | | | | credentials of the company or training |
| and home, you are being paid for long stints | | | | institution you intend to join. Preferably, |
| at sea and hardly any chance to go ashore. By | | | | find someone who is already at sea and who |
| the way, the girl in every port stories you | | | | can guide you. This is one profession where a |
| have heard is pure myth!!! You will not get | | | | mentor is always a good idea.I have been |
| time to meet girls and if you do meet girls | | | | sailing for the past 23 years including 8 |
| then they will be the wrong kind. Some | | | | years as Captain. To me the merchant navy is |
| companies do allow officers (usually senior | | | | wonderful. It has given me everything I |
| officers) to carry their family (wife / kids) | | | | dreamed of and wanted in life. Life on board |
| with them.No problem you say, I can handle | | | | ships isn't easy but its not as bad as it is |
| everything, just as long as I get paid well. | | | | made out to be sometimes. As there seem to be |
| That's just fine, as long as you are aware of | | | | a lot of extreme views on this career, I have |
| what you are getting into. Expect to work | | | | tried to give you the real picture. This is a |
| with a multinational crew. Expect | | | | serious profession where you have to work |
| multinational cuisine. Expect cultural | | | | hard and your hard work pays (quite |
| differences, your Captain could be from U.K. | | | | literally)!I am a Merchant Navy officer |
| while the other officers / crew could be from | | | | living in Mumbai. |