Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata

MERI Kolkata is the birthplace of Marine Engineering training in India. It is the oldest and perhaps the finest Marine Engineering institution in India.  Set up in 1949, it today has more than 6000 ‘floating ambassadors’ sailing the seas for national and international shipping companies all over the world. Previously known as the Directorate of Marine Engineering Training or DMET, it is now known as the Indian Maritime University –Kolkata Campus.

It offers a 4 year course in Marine Engineering under Jadavpur University. Admissions are made through CET conducted by the IMU. 

Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI), Mumbai

MERI offers three courses from its IMU campus in Mumbai.

A four year B.Tech. in Marine Engineering where a candidate must have passed 10+2 with Physics, 

Chemistry and Mathematics to be eligible.

There is a one year course for those who have completed B.E./B.Tech. in Mechanical or Naval Architecture. 

It leads to a Post Graduate Diploma in Marine Mechanical Engineering.

A three year dual certification course trains candidates in navigation and engineering and leads to a B.Sc. (Maritime Science) Degree.

Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai

This college set up in 1948 offers around 46 post-sea training courses for serving officers from the indian merchant navy. The campus is spread over 6 acres in Haye Bunder overlooking Mumbai harbour. It conducts simulator, non-simulator and competency courses for marine professionals. There are simulators for radar, ARPA, Navigation, liquid cargo handling, engine room, GMDSS, LNG. A ship maneuvering simulator is being procured.

The four training institutes covered so far are part of the Government initiative called Indian Maritime University or IMU. These rank among the best courses in maritime training in the country today.

Private Colleges Offering Maritime Training

In addition, there are innumerable private colleges offering training in Marine Engineering and Nautical Sciences. It is important that you select your Maritime Training Institute with care! As in any other field of education, these colleges are a mix of the good and the bad.

It is important that you chose a college approved by the Directorate General of Shipping. The approved colleges are listed on their website as are the ones that have been black-listed for a variety of reasons. Stay away from the black listed ones.

A good way to select your college is check out the facilities at Maritime Training Institute, the faculty, the course work and the track record of placements with Indian and international shipping companies. Which company selects from where can be a good starting point.

Do also remember that quite a few companies including international ones take on Deck Cadets directly on their ships and train them till they acquire their Competency Certificates.

Merchant Navy – Backbone of World Economy

The Shipping Industry is the backbone of the world economy. In the absence of shipping, international trade, the import and export of affordable food items and manufactured goods and the bulk transportation of raw materials would be impacted beyond measure. Merchant Navy is accountable for conducting almost 70% of world trade. Even imagining a world without merchant navy is beyond comprehension.

Ships are hi-tech, refined, high value holdings which can cost over US $150 million to build.  Their operations are responsible for an approximate annual income of over US $380 billion in freight and cargo rates. This represents about 5% of the total global economy.

The global population of people employed on internationally operating merchant ships is guessed to be around 466,000 Officers and 721,000 ratings. Which means that merchant navy generates quite significant employment opportunities worldwide. A career at sea pays much better than a career on shore and therefore, Merchant Navy Admission further contributes to the global economy by increasing the number of tax payers.

The Indian Merchant Navy was born in 1919 prior to independence from the British. Since independence the Indian maritime industry has developed. Today, India holds the 15th rank in the world in terms of total Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT).

India & Philippines are major maritime labour supply countries. India at present supplies approximately 12.8% of officers and around 14.5% of ratings to the world shipping industry. Many seafarers from these countries enjoy employment prospects on foreign vessels operated by International shipping companies.

Hence, it is correct to say that merchant navy is an industry whose contribution to the global economy is considerable and therefore, it should be respected by one and all.