Merchant navy salary is the main reason many boys and girls from coastal and small towns look at a life at sea. Pay can be very good once you become an officer, and it is often paid in foreign currency. But the work means months away from home. Here I explain the merchant navy salary in India rank by rank, the courses after 12th and after 10th, the entrance exam, the fees and what life on a ship is really like.
All pay figures below are broad ranges. They change with the type of ship, the flag, the employer and the contract length.
What the merchant navy is (and is it a government job)
The merchant navy is the fleet of commercial ships that carry cargo and passengers: oil tankers, container ships, bulk carriers, gas carriers and cruise ships. It is not the armed forces. If you want the defence navy, read Indian Navy jobs.
Is merchant navy a government job? Mostly no. Most seafarers work for private shipping companies and ship managers, Indian and foreign. A few posts exist with the Shipping Corporation of India, a central PSU. Shipyards such as Cochin Shipyard and Goa Shipyard are also PSUs, but shipyard jobs are on land, building and repairing ships, and are filled through their own notifications. In India, all seafarers are trained and certified under rules of the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping).
Departments and ranks on a ship
| Department | Entry rank | Path to the top |
|---|---|---|
| Deck (navigation) | Deck cadet | 3rd officer, 2nd officer, chief officer, master (captain) |
| Engine | Engine cadet or trainee marine engineer | 4th engineer, 3rd engineer, 2nd engineer, chief engineer |
| Electrical | Electro-technical cadet | Electro-technical officer (ETO) |
| Ratings (crew) | Trainee seaman, wiper or GP rating | Able seaman, oiler, bosun, fitter |
| Catering and hotel | Messman, trainee cook | Cook, chief cook; on cruise ships many hotel posts |
Each step up as an officer needs sea time plus a Certificate of Competency (CoC) exam conducted under DG Shipping, with written papers and oral exams.
Merchant navy salary in India by rank
This is the rough salary of merchant navy per month while on contract. Seafarers are usually paid only for the months they are on board, so yearly income depends on how many months you sail.
| Rank | Rough monthly pay on board |
|---|---|
| Deck cadet or engine cadet | Roughly ₹20,000 to ₹60,000 (a training stipend) |
| GP rating or trainee seaman | Roughly ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 at the start |
| 3rd officer or 4th engineer | Roughly ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh |
| 2nd officer or 3rd engineer | Roughly ₹2 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh |
| ETO | Roughly ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh |
| Chief officer or 2nd engineer | Roughly ₹4 lakh to ₹7 lakh |
| Master or chief engineer | Roughly ₹6 lakh to ₹12 lakh or more |
So the merchant navy starting salary for an officer, the 3rd officer salary in merchant navy, is often in the ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh range once you clear the CoC. The merchant navy salary after 5 years can reach the chief officer or 2nd engineer band if you pass your exams on time. The salary of chief engineer in merchant navy is among the highest at sea. Tankers and gas carriers usually pay more than bulk carriers. Food and stay on board are free, which helps savings. Your income tax status can change with the number of days you spend outside India, so take advice from a tax expert.
Merchant navy courses after 12th
Officer courses need 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Most institutes ask for at least 60 percent in PCM and a minimum score in English, plus medical fitness and good eyesight. Exact marks and age limits are set by DG Shipping and the institute, so check the current rules.
| Merchant navy course | Duration | Leads to |
|---|---|---|
| B.Sc Nautical Science | 3 years | Deck cadet, then 3rd officer |
| Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) | 1 year ashore plus sea time | Deck cadet |
| B.Tech Marine Engineering | 4 years | Engine cadet, then 4th engineer |
| Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) | About 1 year, after a mechanical engineering degree | Engine cadet |
| ETO course | About 4 months, after an electrical or electronics degree or diploma | Electro-technical cadet |
For marine engineering courses, the B.Tech route is common. If you already study mechanical engineering, see B.Tech courses, because GME after a degree is a strong path. Marine engineer salary follows the engine column of the salary table above.
Merchant navy entrance exam
The main merchant navy entrance exam is the IMU CET held by Indian Maritime University, a central university. It is a computer-based test on English, general aptitude, Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Many DG Shipping-approved private institutes also use IMU CET scores, while some hold their own merchant navy exam and interview. Students also hear about tests by shipping companies for sponsored seats. These are private tests, so check that the institute is approved by DG Shipping before you pay. For other science entrance tests, see entrance exams after 12th.
GP rating course: the route after 10th
The GP rating course (General Purpose rating) is a pre-sea course of about 6 months for students who have passed class 10 or 12. It trains you for both deck and engine work as a crew member, not an officer. The GP rating course age limit is usually around 17.5 to 25 years, with a minimum mark in English, Maths and Science in class 10. Check the latest rules on the DG Shipping website.
The GP rating course fees at private institutes usually run from about ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh. GP rating salary starts lower than an officer, but with experience you can grow to able seaman or bosun, and some ratings later study further and move up. It is a route many students from jobs after 10th backgrounds take.
Merchant navy courses fees
For officer courses, private institutes usually charge roughly ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh for the full course, depending on the course and whether hostel, uniform and food are included. Government and central university campuses usually cost less. Sponsored seats, where a shipping company backs you, can reduce the cost and promise sea time, so ask about them. Avoid agents who promise a job on ship for a fee. DG Shipping regularly warns about fake recruitment agencies.
Merchant navy jobs: where seafarers work
Most merchant navy jobs are with ship owners and ship management companies that run tankers, container ships, bulk carriers and gas carriers under Indian and foreign flags. Other shipping jobs include offshore supply and support vessels, dredgers, coastal ships and cruise lines. After years at sea, many officers move ashore as marine superintendents, port officials, surveyors, trainers at maritime institutes or staff in shipping offices.
Pros and cons of life at sea
- Good: high pay early, free food and stay on board, long leave between contracts, travel, quick rank growth for those who clear exams.
- Hard: 4 to 9 months away at a time, poor internet on some ships, physical risk, strict discipline, long gaps if you do not find the next contract.
- Getting the first ship: cadets sometimes wait months for a ship. This is the biggest hurdle, so choose an institute with a real record of placing cadets.
How to start a merchant navy career
Take PCM in class 11 and 12 and keep English strong. Get a full eye test early, because colour blindness rules out deck jobs. Prepare for IMU CET and pick a DG Shipping-approved institute. After training you get an INDoS number and a Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), which are your identity papers as a seafarer. Cruise ship jobs on the hotel side suit people with a hotel management background. Compare other high paying paths on commercial pilot and career options after 12th.
Questions students ask
What is merchant navy salary after 12th?
During training as a deck or engine cadet you get a stipend of roughly ₹20,000 to ₹60,000 a month on board. Once you clear the CoC and become a 3rd officer or 4th engineer, pay is roughly ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh a month while on contract.
What is the merchant navy officer salary at the top?
A master (captain) or chief engineer can earn roughly ₹6 lakh to ₹12 lakh a month or more on board. Pay depends on ship type, employer and contract. Remember you are paid mainly for the months you sail.
What is the GP rating course age limit and fee?
The age limit is usually around 17.5 to 25 years, with class 10 pass and minimum marks in English, Maths and Science. Fees at private institutes usually run from about ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh. Check DG Shipping for current rules.
Is merchant navy a government job?
No, mostly it is private sector work with shipping companies and ship managers. The Shipping Corporation of India is a central PSU that hires seafarers. DG Shipping is the government regulator, not the main employer.
Which is the main merchant navy entrance exam?
IMU CET by Indian Maritime University is the main entrance test for B.Sc Nautical Science, B.Tech Marine Engineering and DNS. Some approved institutes also run their own tests and interviews.
What is a 3rd engineer salary in merchant navy?
A 3rd engineer usually earns roughly ₹2 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh a month on board. Tankers and gas carriers tend to pay more than bulk ships.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- Directorate General of Shipping: approved institutes, courses and CoC exams
- Indian Maritime University: IMU CET and courses
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.