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Guide

How to join the Merchant Navy

Five steps, from choosing a course to your first ship. Read them in order, and check each one before you pay any money.

The Merchant Navy is the civilian shipping industry. It is not the Indian Navy. You join by passing a course approved by DG Shipping, then training on a ship.

1. Choose the route for your qualification

Your last exam passed decides which courses you can join.

After 10th

GP Rating and ship's cook courses. Start work on ships as a rating.

After 12th Science

B.Sc. Nautical Science, DNS, B.Tech Marine Engineering. Officer careers.

After 12th Commerce or Arts

Rating and cruise hotel courses. What is open and what is not.

After a degree

GME for mechanical engineers, ETO for electrical engineers, deck for science graduates.

After ITI or diploma

Rating and engine courses that count your trade.

2. Check the basic rules

  • Age: most officer courses take you up to 25, GME up to 28 and ETO up to 35. See age limits.
  • Marks: officer courses after 12th need 60% average in PCM and 50% in English.
  • Eyesight: deck jobs need very good colour vision. See eyesight rules.

3. Pick an approved institute

Only a DG Shipping approved course leads to a job at sea. Compare fees, the entrance test and, most of all, which shipping companies take the institute's cadets for sea training.

4. Pass the entrance test, interview and medical

Degree courses and most DNS courses use IMU-CET. Shipping companies that sponsor cadets add their own test and interview. A DG Shipping approved doctor then checks your fitness, eyesight and colour vision.

5. Train at sea and get your first certificate

After the course you train on a ship as a cadet or trainee. Then you take the DG Shipping exam for your first certificate. With it, you can work as a junior officer or rating.

Never pay for a job. Licensed recruitment agencies may not charge seafarers for placement. See warning signs of a fake agent.

Common questions

What is the minimum qualification for the Merchant Navy?
Class 10 with English, Maths and Science and at least 40%, for the GP Rating course. Officer courses need Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, or a degree.
What is IMU-CET?
The common entrance test of the Indian Maritime University. It is used for its degree courses (B.Sc. Nautical Science, B.Tech Marine Engineering) and for DNS at most institutes.
What is a CDC?
The Continuous Discharge Certificate is a seafarer's identity and service record book, issued by DG Shipping. You get it after an approved pre-sea course. It records every ship you serve on.
How long does it take to become a ship's officer?
About 2 to 5 years from Class 12, depending on the course. This includes the course ashore, training at sea and the first DG Shipping exam.
Sources
  • DG Shipping Training Circular 12 of 2020 (approved pre-sea courses and entry rules)
  • Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules 2026
  • Indian Maritime University: IMU-CET information bulletin

This page is general guidance. The institute, the company and the approved doctor make the final decisions.