How To Get Into Marine Engineering

       Dear friends, you have read about the life of a Marine Engineer. This posts however, highlights the process about, 'How to get into Marine Engineering'. Before telling you about it, I would like to give you an  overview of the entire Merchant Navy. There are 3 branches in Merchant Navy:

1. Deck Side : The one responsible for Navigation, Loading & Unloading of the shipment.
2. Engine Side : The one responsible for the Maintenance & Operation of the engine.
3. Help Side : They are the Cooks & Stewards & other basic helpers on the ship.

       The people working in Engine Side have to be a Marine Engineer. To start, there are 3 ways in which you become a Marine Engineer:

1. 3 year Polyvalent B.Sc Degree Course (Nautical Sciences)
2. 4 year Marine Engineering Course after 12th
3. 4 year Mechanical Engineering Course + 1 year PGDME/GME/TME Course

       The first way is expensive, but you have job surety and within 4 years you will find yourself on a ship. This process is very expensive, as the fee for each year is about 4-5 Lakh INR per year minimum. The fee structure depends upon each institute, and the seat availability. There are a number of colleges all over India. For a list of all the institutes approved by DG Shipping, you can log on to http://www.dgshipping.com. This site is the main site for all the seafarers in India. The DG Shipping (Directorate General of Shipping) is the whole & soul of your entire career as a Marine Engineer. The DG Shipping will be responsible to hire & fire you at will, depending upon your actions during training & when you work on the ship, irrelevant of the company you work for.
        The second way is easier, but a gamble from job point of view. This includes a a degree course to be completed of 4 years. The fee structure is also high.

       The third way is a little tricky & long, but many people go for this way. This is very less expensive as compared to the first way. For this you first have to complete Mechanical Engineering from any institute. Then, after your complete completion, you have to hunt down the Shipping Companies. Beware, there are like thousands of companies, but not all are trust able. Before you completely choose the company you are interested to work for, run a background check about the company, like, how many ships does it have, where does the company trade, how is the financial situation of the company, etc.

       These things play an important role, as once you are hired and sent on a ship, you will not be able to complain about anything but just work. My preference is first go for big companies, like, Shipping Corporation of India, Great Eastern Shipping, Essar, Maersk, Anglo-Eastern Shipping, etc. But first try for Indian companies rather than foreign. Always keep an eye on the companies website, coz there will be an advertisement around June, to register for the exam to get the sponsorship. Even the advertisement will be printed in Times of India & Indian Express.

       So as soon as the advertisement is out, you have to register & prepare for the exam. For now, don't worry about the exam, my next post will be of how to crack the exam. So for now lets concentrate on the process of 'getting into'. So, register, prepare, pass the exam & you get the sponsorship of the company, & then the company itself will give you a seat in any of the Maritime Institute, for your 1 Year PGDME(Post Graduation Degree in Marine Engineer) / GME(Graduate Marine Engineer) / TME(Trainee Marine Engineer) course.

       Then all you have to do is be strong enough to complete the course, & you become a Marinee Engineer, starting your career as 5th Engineer, & rise till Chief Engineer...