Merchant Navy After Class 10: Free Career Course

Name: Merchant Navy Career: From Class 10 to the Ship's Bridge
Availability: InStock

Lesson 1.1 · What the Merchant Navy Really Is · ~5 min

Watch a sample

Like a senior who has been to sea

Each lesson is a calm, five minute video, then short notes with the exact numbers and official links. Watch in Hinglish or English and switch any time.

Hinglish captions on by default, English captions one tap away
Honest about the hard parts: months away, sponsorship waits, medical failures
Every number sourced, with a note where rules change every year
Quick checks and a private notebook for your own plan

The route map

From Class 10 to Captain or Chief Engineer

The officer route takes roughly 8 to 12 years from Class 12 to the top rank, and every step has a gate. Orange marks the gates where most students get stuck.

Class 10Eye and colour vision test before choosing a stream
Class 11 and 12, PCM60% PCM, 50% English minimum; sponsors often ask more
IMU-CETCompulsory for every officer course, government or private
B.Sc NS, DNS or B.Tech MEDeck: B.Sc 3 yrs or DNS 1 yr. Engine: B.Tech 4 yrs
Cadet at sea12 to 18 months deck, about 6 months engine; needs a ship
CoC examSecond Mate or MEO Class IV: written and oral
OfficerThird, then Second Officer; or Fourth, then Third Engineer
Captain or Chief EngineerAfter more sea time and two more CoCs

StepGate: exam, marks or a ship

Route finder

Which routes are open for you?

Pick where you are today and what you know about your eyes. This is a first check based on 2026 rules, not a medical or admission decision.

Where are you now?

Expected PCM in Class 12

Your eyesight without glasses

Rules from DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020 and the IMU Prospectus 2026-27. Always confirm with a DGMA approved medical examiner and the current prospectus before paying any fee.

Reference

The facts, in one place

As of 2026. Rules, fees and dates change every year, so check the official source linked under each table before you decide.

Eligibility
Eyesight
IMU-CET
Fees
Rank ladder
Pay
Scams and helplines

Eligibility by course

Course	Leads to	Length	After	Academic minimum	Age (General)
B.Sc Nautical Science	Deck officer	3 years + 12 months at sea	Class 12 PCM	PCM average 60%, English 50% (Class 10 or 12), IMU-CET rank, unmarried	17 to 25 (women 27)
DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science)	Deck officer	1 year + 18 months at sea	Class 12 PCM, or B.Sc 55%, or B.E. 50%	Same as B.Sc, IMU-CET and sponsorship at affiliated institutes, unmarried	Up to 25 (women 27) at IMU; DGMA page says 17 to 21 and sponsors often cap at 21 (girls 23) Conflicting
B.Tech Marine Engineering	Engine officer	4 years + about 6 months at sea	Class 12 PCM, or diploma 55% (lateral entry to year 2)	PCM average 60%, English 50%, IMU-CET rank, unmarried	17 to 25 (women 27)
GP Rating	Deck or engine rating	6 months	Class 10	40% aggregate with Science and Maths, 40% English; or ITI 50%	17.5 to 25
CCMC (Maritime Catering)	Catering rating	About 6 months Unverified	Class 10	40% aggregate, 40% English	17.5 to 25
ETO	Electro-Technical Officer	4 months	B.E. Electrical or Electronics 50%, or diploma 60%	English 50% in Class 10 or 12	Up to 35
GME	Engine officer	1 year	B.E. or B.Tech Mechanical	English 50%	Up to 28
B.Tech Naval Architecture (IMU Vizag)	Shore career, ship design	4 years	Class 12 PCM	PCM 60%, English 50%, IMU-CET; general fitness only, not the sea medical	Same caps as B.Sc

Age relaxation: SC/ST +5 years, OBC-NCL +3, women +2 on top. SC/ST get 5% off the PCM requirement, not off English. No officer course exists directly after Class 10. Sources: DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020, IMU Prospectus 2026-27, DGMA career page. As of 2026, check the official source.

Eyesight standards: deck vs engine

	Deck (B.Sc NS, DNS)	Engine (B.Tech ME, PGDME)
Distance vision, without glasses	6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the other	6/12 in each eye, or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other
Colour vision	Normal (Ishihara plates)	Normal (Ishihara plates)
Also needed	No morbid eye condition, good binocular vision, full eye movements, normal pupil reactions
Once working at sea (STCW, with glasses)	0.5 in each eye	0.4 in each eye

Unaided means without glasses or lenses. Colour blindness rules out every seagoing route. LASIK may be accepted under the draft 2026 medical rules, but many companies refuse it: ask before any surgery Unverified. IMU does not refund fees if you fail the medical, so test first with a DGMA approved medical examiner. Sources: IMU Prospectus 2026-27, Draft Merchant Shipping (Medical) Rules 2026. As of 2026, check the official source.

IMU-CET at a glance

Needed for	B.Sc NS, B.Tech ME, DNS at every approved institute, government or private
Paper	200 MCQs: English, General Aptitude, Physics, Chemistry, Maths at Class 12 level
Time	3 hours, two shifts, normalised by percentile
Negative marking	0.25 per wrong answer
Application fee	₹1,200 (General, EWS, OBC-NCL); ₹800 (SC/ST)
Valid for	That academic year only
Section split	Commonly reported: Physics 50, Maths 50, English 40, Chemistry 20, Aptitude 20, GK 20 Unverified

2026 cycle
Registration	5 Feb to 28 Apr 2026
Exam	24 May 2026
Result	14 Jun 2026
Qualifying percentile	General 60, EWS and OBC-NCL 54, SC and ST 45
IMU campus closing rank	About 227 to 1,058 (General, first list) depending on course and campus
Classes start	1 Aug 2026

Expect a similar February to April registration and a late May exam in future years, but the 2027 notice is not out yet. Practise with IMU's free sample papers on the IMU admissions page. Source: IMU Prospectus 2026-27 and notifications. As of 2026, check the official source.

Approximate fees (2026)

Route	Tuition and hostel, approx.	Notes
IMU campus B.Tech Marine Engineering	₹2.75 lakh a year, about ₹11 lakh in total	Plus ₹10,000 registration, ₹30,000 caution deposit
IMU campus B.Sc Nautical Science	About ₹8.25 lakh in total	Same extras
IMU campus DNS	About ₹2.75 lakh	You still need a ship for sea time
Private DNS (example: Tolani)	About ₹6.78 lakh	Women get 50% off tuition there
Private B.Tech ME (example: Tolani)	About ₹24.7 lakh in total	Secondary source
GP Rating	₹1.8 to 4.9 lakh	SCI's institute: ₹4.5 lakh men, ₹3.6 lakh women
Medical, passport, INDoS, CDC, STCW basics	Roughly ₹20,000 to 50,000	Unverified total

Loans: ask your bank in writing whether it covers your institute, and check whether your institute is on the PM-Vidyalaxmi list. IMU students have used state post-matric scholarships, the Central Sector Scheme and industry awards for women. Sources: IMU Prospectus 2026-27, Tolani DNS Prospectus 2026, SCI MTI. As of 2026, check the official source.

The rank ladder

Deck

Deck Cadet: 12 months at sea after B.Sc, 18 months after DNS
Second Mate CoC exam, then Third Officer and Second Officer
Chief Mate CoC after 18 months of watchkeeping, then Chief Officer
Master CoC after 36 months of sea service including 12 as Chief Officer: Captain

Engine

Trainee Engineer: about 6 months at sea after B.Tech Unverified
MEO Class IV CoC: Fourth Engineer, then Third Engineer
MEO Class II after 12 months in charge of a watch: Second Engineer
MEO Class I: Chief Engineer

Typical years after Class 12 (estimates)
Route	First officer CoC	Master or Chief Engineer
DNS	About 3 years	About 8 to 10 years
B.Sc Nautical Science	About 4.5 years	About 9 to 11 years
B.Tech Marine Engineering	About 5 years	About 9 to 12 years

Waiting for a cadet berth, exam failures and leave between contracts can add years. Source: DGMA career page; timelines are estimates. As of 2026, check the official source.

Indicative pay by rank

Rank	Per month (₹)
Deck Cadet	25,000 to 50,000 (stipend)
Third Officer	1.2 to 2.0 lakh
Second Officer	2.0 to 3.5 lakh
Chief Officer	3.5 to 5.5 lakh
Master	5.0 to 8.0 lakh and more
Senior Master	8.0 to 10.0 lakh and more

DGMA indicative figures for deck ranks; they vary by company, ship type and flag. Engine ranks are broadly parallel but no official table exists. Pay is usually earned only while on a contract, so multiply by months at sea, not by 12. Tax depends on days spent in India; ask a CA who files seafarer returns. Source: DGMA career page. As of 2026, check the official source.

Scam red flags and official helplines

Walk away if someone

Asks for a fee for a job or a "guaranteed ship"
Wants payment into a personal bank account
Asks to keep your original documents
Is a "sub-agent" not on the DGMA RPSL list
Offers "direct admission without IMU-CET"
Sells foreign certificates or course "packages"
Runs courses at an institute not on the DGMA list

Verify and get help (free)

e-Navik 24x7: 1800-889-7768 toll-free, WhatsApp +91 8655856830, e-Navik page
Career helpline: 8655798737 or 022-25752055 (ext. 262), DGMA Training Branch
Check a recruiter: Valid, invalid and suspended RPSL list
IMU admissions: Only imu.edu.in; IMU has no agents

Between January 2024 and May 2025 the DG acted against 97 placement agencies. Only licensed RPSL holders may recruit seafarers, and charging seafarers placement fees is not allowed. Sources: DGMA, IMU caution notice (April 2026). As of 2026, check the official source.

Full syllabus

4 weeks, 20 lessons, one video each

One module a week. Every lesson has a narrated video in English and Hinglish, notes with official links, three quick checks and a page in your private notebook.

Week 1

Understand the Career

1.1
What the Merchant Navy Really Is
The merchant navy is a civilian career on commercial ships, regulated in India by the DGMA (formerly DG Shipping).
Video · ~5 min
1.2
Inside a Ship: Departments, Ranks and a Cadet's Day
A ship is a small, strict organisation with four departments (deck, engine, electro-technical, catering) and two levels (officers and ratings).
Video · ~5 min
1.3
Ship Types and Where Indian Seafarers Sail
Ship type shapes your daily life more than almost anything else: tankers and gas carriers usually pay more but demand extra training and strict safety; container ships run tight schedules; bulk carriers wander the world; cruise and offshore are different worlds again.
Video · ~5 min
1.4
Life at Sea: The Real Trade-offs
Sea life means months away, long watches, limited contact and real safety risks, balanced by strong officer pay, long leave at home and early responsibility.
Video · ~5 min
1.5
Is This Career for Me?
Interest is not enough: the sea suits people who are disciplined, steady away from home and good with people, and who clear hard gates like PCM marks, English and an unaided eye and colour vision test.
Video · ~5 min

Week 2

Stream, Medical and Entry Routes

2.1
The 90 Days After Boards
Your eyes decide your route before your marks do: test eyesight and colour vision first, then choose PCM, then use the summer for passport, swimming, fitness and English.
Video · ~5 min
2.2
Your Class 11 and 12 Strategy
Clear the DGS minimums with room to spare: sponsors, not the law, set the real bar.
Video · ~5 min
2.3
The Medical Gate
The medical is a hard gate, not a formality: if you fail it after paying, IMU keeps the fee.
Video · ~5 min
2.4
Every Entry Route Mapped
After Class 10 you can only become a rating; every officer route starts after Class 12 or a diploma or degree.
Video · ~5 min
2.5
IMU CET Decoded
IMU CET is compulsory for B.Sc NS, DNS and B.Tech ME at every DGS approved institute.
Video · ~5 min

Week 3

Choosing Right and Staying Safe

3.1
Sponsorship, the Most Important Word
A pre-sea course without a ship is half a career, because no CoC is possible without cadet sea time.
Video · ~5 min
3.2
Choosing an Institute
An IMU campus is cheap but needs roughly a top 1,000 CET rank; most cadets study at private institutes, so the real skill is checking approval and placement record in writing before you pay.
Video · ~5 min
3.3
The Money Plan
The same career can cost under Rs 3 lakh (IMU DNS) or around Rs 25 lakh (a private B.Tech).
Video · ~5 min
3.4
Scams and Fake Agents
Legitimate recruitment is free for the seafarer and goes only through a valid RPSL; anyone selling a seat, a ship or a certificate is a fraud.
Video · ~5 min
3.5
Documents and Your First Ship
Your passport is the one document you can start now, in the exact name on your Class 10 certificate.
Video · ~5 min

Week 4

The Career Ahead

4.1
The Deck Ladder: Cadet to Master
Every step up the deck ladder needs two things: approved months at sea and a government CoC exam.
Video · ~5 min
4.2
The Engine and ETO Ladder
On the engine side, MEO Class IV makes you a Fourth Engineer, Class II a Second Engineer and Class I a Chief Engineer.
Video · ~5 min
4.3
Money at Sea
Sea pay is high but it is earned only on contract months, so always think in yearly income.
Video · ~5 min
4.4
Rights, Safety and Women at Sea
Seafarers have written, enforceable rights under the MLC and real help channels like e-Navik.
Video · ~5 min
4.5
Shore Careers, Plan B and Your Roadmap
A sea career does not end at sea: surveying, piloting, superintendent and teaching roles follow.
Video · ~5 min

FAQ

Questions students and parents ask

Is the merchant navy the same as the Indian Navy?

No. The merchant navy is a civilian career on commercial ships such as tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. Seafarers work for shipowners or ship managers, usually on fixed contracts. It is regulated in India by the DGMA (Directorate General of Maritime Administration, formerly DG Shipping). The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard are armed forces under the Ministry of Defence with their own entry routes, such as NDA.

Which stream should I choose after Class 10 for the merchant navy?

Choose PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths; PCMB is also fine). Every officer route needs at least 60% average in PCM in Class 12 and at least 50% in English in Class 10 or 12. Many sponsoring companies ask for more, for example 70% PCM and 60% English. Get an eyesight and colour vision test before you commit to PCM for this reason.

Can I join the merchant navy right after Class 10?

Not as an officer. After Class 10 the only DGMA approved options are the GP Rating course (deck and engine ratings) and CCMC (catering), which need 40% aggregate with Science and Maths and 40% in English, and a minimum age of 17.5 years. Officer courses such as B.Sc Nautical Science, DNS and B.Tech Marine Engineering start after Class 12 with PCM. Worldwide there is a shortage of officers but a surplus of ratings, so plan carefully.

I wear glasses or I am colour blind. Can I join the merchant navy?

Colour blindness rules out all seagoing routes. Eyesight is checked without glasses: for deck (B.Sc Nautical Science, DNS) IMU asks for 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the other, unaided. For engine (B.Tech Marine Engineering) it is 6/12 in each eye, or 6/9 and 6/18, unaided. Many students who wear glasses fail deck but some pass engine. Get tested by a DGMA approved doctor before choosing PCM for this career, because IMU does not refund fees if you fail the medical.

What is the IMU-CET and when is it held?

The IMU-CET is the common entrance test of the Indian Maritime University. It is compulsory for B.Sc Nautical Science, B.Tech Marine Engineering and DNS at every DGMA approved institute, government or private. In 2026 it had 200 multiple choice questions on English, General Aptitude, Physics, Chemistry and Maths, with 0.25 negative marking. Registration ran from February to April, the exam was on 24 May 2026 and classes began on 1 August. Check imu.edu.in for the current year.

How much does merchant navy training cost?

At IMU campuses the 2026 fee is about 2.75 lakh rupees a year (residential), so roughly 8.25 lakh for B.Sc Nautical Science and 11 lakh for B.Tech Marine Engineering, plus deposits. Private institutes cost more: for example about 6.78 lakh for a one year DNS at Tolani, and about 24.7 lakh for a private B.Tech. GP Rating costs about 1.8 to 4.9 lakh. Fees change every year, so check each institute.

What is sponsorship and do I need it?

Sponsorship means a shipping company selects you before or during your course and promises your cadet sea time. You cannot get your first Certificate of Competency without that sea time, and there have long been more pass-outs than training berths. DNS at affiliated institutes is open only to sponsored candidates. For B.Sc and B.Tech it is not compulsory, but a sponsored seat or an institute with a proven placement record saves months or years of waiting.

How much does a merchant navy officer earn?

The DGMA's indicative monthly figures (2026) are: deck cadet 25,000 to 50,000 rupees stipend, Third Officer 1.2 to 2 lakh, Second Officer 2 to 3.5 lakh, Chief Officer 3.5 to 5.5 lakh and Master 5 to 8 lakh or more. Pay varies by company, ship type and flag, and is usually earned only for the months you are on a contract, so work out the yearly figure, not the monthly one.

How do I avoid fake merchant navy agents?

Never pay anyone for a job or a guaranteed ship: charging seafarers placement fees is not allowed. Only RPSL licence holders may recruit, and DGMA publishes the list of valid, invalid and suspended RPSLs. There is no admission without the IMU-CET. Check an institute's approval on the DGMA list before paying, and report fraud to the e-Navik 24x7 helpline, 1800-889-7768 or WhatsApp +91 8655856830.

Can girls join the merchant navy?

Yes. Women get two extra years on the maximum age for all pre-sea courses, and several institutes offer concessions; for example Tolani gives women DNS candidates 50% off tuition, and SCI's institute charges women less for GP Rating. Women are still a small share of Indian seafarers, roughly 7,000 to 10,000, and the government has a policy, Sagar Mein Samman, to increase that number.

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