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