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