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Electro-Technical Officer Overview

As per Section A-III/6 of the STCW Code Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) is a licensed member of the engine department on board. For the efficient functioning of every electronic element on a merchant navy vessel, an ETO in merchant navy is responsible. Electronic elements range from huge and complex engine room control systems to electronic charts and radars installed on the bridge. ETO is responsible for the generation of power and distribution systems for other systems such as lifts, reefers, and much more. ETO’s working range depends upon the type of vessel, they can also be witnessed indulged in cargo operations.

An ETO directly reports to the Chief Engineer and also plays a major role in the senior management team. Unlike other marine engineers onboard, an ETO does not go for any engine room watch. The better functioning of electrical and electronic equipment under the supervision of an ETO accounts for the maximization of operational safety and efficiency of the vessel.

Why choose ETO?

Electro Technical Officer is one such post in the merchant navy for which you can apply after graduation from electrical. This profession opens the gates of immense opportunities after electrical engineering. It is prevalent that merchant navy is known for its handsome salaries, opportunities to roam around the world, and engagement with different kinds of people in the world. When we talk about Electro-Technical Officer, it is an officer post in the merchant navy that you can apply for after graduation from electrical. The advantages are huge from handsome salary to career advancement and whatnot. We will learn more about the different aspects of Electro-Technical Officer below.

How to Become an ETO in Merchant Navy?

  • To become an Electro-Technical Officer in the merchant navy, you need to apply to colleges that conduct ETO courses in India after passing out with a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics, and Telecommunication/Communication Engineering, or Electronics and Instrumentation or equivalent streams.
  • After getting into college, you will get all the knowledge about the ship’s electrical system and seamanship.
  • The ETO Course is four months long, and it is a residential course. After that, you will get training onboard.
  • After passing out from college, you will get onboard training for up to 8 months as a trainee ETO if a shipping company already sponsors you.
  • But not everyone can go for this course after graduation, there are some ETO course eligibility criteria that one needs to fulfill to get admission to one of the best ETO colleges in India.

After graduating it is a very long way till you become an ETO and you definitely need guidance while traversing this path that’s where Merchant Navy Decoded will guide you with its dedicated free ETO Course Guidance Serieswhere you get all the information related to Electro-Technical Officer Sponsorship and Interview.

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ETO course eligibility

Criteria Details
Educational Qualifications for ETO
  • Passed in 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English with a minimum of 50% marks in English in classes 10th and 12th in standard exams.
  • You should have PCM in class 12th.
  • Passed 3-year Diploma with 60% marks or four years Degrees including lateral entry with 50% marks in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication/Communication Engineering, or Electronics and Instrumentation or equivalent.
  • The diploma/degree courses must have been recognized by any State or Central Government or the AICTE.
Age Limit
  • The maximum age limit for the ETO in Merchant Navy is 35 years.
  • The age limit keeps changing for different companies and colleges. For instance, in Anglo-Eastern, the age limit for the ETO Course is 28 years, whereas in Great Eastern it is 26 years.
  • You need to look out for these criteria while applying to any company.
ETO Medical Criteria
  • Physical Standards: Candidates should be physically fit for sea service under the standard norm, with eyesight up to 6/12.
  • No Color Blindness; Partial Color Blindness is also not acceptable.
  • The D.G. Shipping Medical Certificate must be issued by D.G. Shipping Approved Doctors, under the specified medical examination requirements.

There is so much information about the medical requirements in the Merchant Navy that it is next to impossible to compress everything in a blog that’s why we have made a dedicated series for the medical requirements of the Merchant Navy.

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ETO Eligibility Calculator

Are you also confused about whether you are eligible for ETO or not? If Yes, then use our ETO eligibility calculator to learn about the complete ETO Eligibility. 

College Recommendation:- You will get colleges completely based on your profile and past results.
BMI Analysis:- It also calculates your BMI and gives recommendations on health and educational grounds.
Complete Company Details:- You can also check the companies you can apply for sponsorship if you want to go for a Diploma in Nautical Science. 

Sponsorship & Interview of ETO

One of the most important steps to becoming an ETO in Merchant Navy is Sponsorship. Sponsorship is like a guarantee that companies give to candidates that after passing out from maritime college they will be placed onboard with the same company they have taken sponsorship from. To get a Sponsorship you need to clear an interview with a shipping company prior to DG Shipping medicals. 

Rank Structure of an ETO

The electrical cadet or Trainee ETO is the starting rank onboard and goes way up to senior ETO. The promotions are given based on qualifications and experience. After completing sea-time of 8 months which most companies cover in 2 sails of 6 months each a trainee electrical cadet becomes eligible for Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations. After clearing you can join your next ship as an Assistant Electro-Technical Officer after completing the necessary sea time you can go for the Senior ETO exams.

Rank Structure of an ETO

eto duties and responsibilities

Generally, the job of an ETO is to find faults and repair any. It also includes installing and testing new electronic and electrical types of machinery. Maintenance of complex electronics and electrical systems is also accomplished by the Electro-Technical Officer (ETO). Somewhere senior ETOs are also appointed to supervise the electronic and electrical work on large-scale onboard ships.

To get to that level you need a lot of hard work and knowledge and we, a Merchant Navy platform can provide you that with our dedicated ETO Excellence Package that will allow the junior ETOs to get more technical and immersive knowledge through our videos and it allows them to learn what they couldn’t learn on-board ship.

Electro-Technical Officer Salary

The Electro-Technical Officer’s salary depends on a lot of factors such as the experience of a sailor, the type of ship on which he is sailing, and the type of company he is sailing with i.e. ownership or management company. 

All of this makes up the salary of an ETO. At the start of this career, the salary of an ETO trainee can earn 500$ to 800$ depending on the factors discussed above. Once you complete your 8 months of training as an ETO you can go for the ETO course CoC where you will be paid according to the ship and experience.

Let’s say, if an ETO has 6 years of experience on a Bulk Carrier, then the salary of ETO will be from 2500$ to 4000$ a month.

If the same person sails on an Oil Tanker then the salary of an ETO will be 5000$ a month.

Let’s say an ETO sails on an LNG Carrier with 6 years of experience he will be paid 8000$ a month.

If an ETO is on a Cruise, then the salary of an ETO will be 10000$ a month with 6 years of experience.

** Again these salaries are not fixed, they may change according to market demands of an ETO and the technological advancement of the shipping industry.

To get to that level you need a lot of hard work and knowledge and we, a Merchant Navy platform can provide you that with our dedicated ETO Excellence Package that will allow the junior ETOs to get more technical and immersive knowledge through our videos and it allows them to learn what they couldn’t learn on-board ship.

Table of Contents

Best ETO Colleges in India

There are a lot of colleges that conduct Electro-Technical Officer courses for the Merchant Navy. However, there are only a few that truly have a good placement record in India. Let’s discuss them one by one:- 

1. Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy, Maharashtra

Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy is one of the best ETO college in India conducting 4 months of ETO Course. They boast a 100% placement rate as they have their own shipping company Anglo Eastern Ship Management so you will have no problem after the course. With the fees of 3.3 lakhs, you will be appointed as a trainee ETO on their own ship.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualifications In class 12th or equivalent have scored a minimum 65% marks in PCM or Diploma aggregate 65%. For Diploma candidates with lateral entry to the 2nd year of B.Tech, need to have scored 65% and above in the Diploma followed by the Degree eligibility criteria. Should have obtained not less than 50% marks in English as a separate subject, at either 10th or 12th standard conducted by a recognized Board/ University.
Age The maximum age should not exceed 28 years on the date of commencement of the course – usually commences in March every year.
Marital Status Unmarried
Medical Criteria Physically fit and should meet the medical requirements as specified by DGS guidelines, eyesight 6/12 in each eye without visual aids and no color blindness.

2. Seven Islands Maritime Training Institute

Seven Islands Maritime Training Instituteis a new training institute that has its own shipping company Seven Islands Shipping. Here they provide immersive education to a batch size of 40 students. With the fees of 3.9 lakhs, students get 100% placement as they have their own shipping company. It has recently signed an MoU with Seaspan Shipping facilitating the smooth procedure and less waiting period overall.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualifications Passed a four-year BE / B Tech Degree including lateral entry, with 50% marks in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication / Communication Engineering, or Electronics and Instrumentation or equivalent.
English Marks Requirement The candidates must have secured a minimum of 50% marks in English in 10th or 12th standard exams.
Degree Recognition The degree courses must be recognized by any state or central Government or the AICTE.
Class 12th Requirement Candidate must have passed class 12th from a recognized board.
Age Limit The maximum age to apply is 30 years.

3. IMI with Fleet Management

The International Maritime Institute (IMI) in Greater Noida is one of India’s top maritime training centers, offering a range of Pre-Sea & Post-Sea courses approved by DG Shipping. It boasts advanced shipboard equipment, industry collaborations, and an A1 ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Indian Register of Shipping & RINA. IMI is dedicated to academic excellence and providing a memorable educational experience.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria
  • 12th cleared in 2024 or 2025 (appearing in the board exams in 2025 and awaiting results can also apply).
  • There is no more than two academic years gap in the year of passing the 10th and 12th exams respectively.
  • Minimum Physics-Chemistry-Maths (PCM) marks in 12th Std: 70% (improvement exam results will not be considered).
  • Minimum English score in 12th Std: 70% (improvement exam results will not be considered).
  • Candidates who have appeared for their 12th standard board exams via an Open Board, the NIOS board, or through distance learning are not eligible.
  • Candidates must clear IMU CET 2025.
Age Criteria The candidate must be 20 years or less as of 1st July 2025 (born on or after 1st July 2005).
Medical Standards
  • Height: Minimum 160 centimeters.
  • BMI: Not more than 25.
  • No speech deformity.
  • Eyesight 6/6 without aid and no color blindness.

4. Amet with Maersk Sponsorship

AMET with MAERSK

AMET University, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is India’s first Maritime Deemed to be University, recognized for maritime education, training, and research. It has been ranked among the top five maritime institutions globally by the International Association of Maritime Universities for four consecutive years. The university offers a dynamic learning environment with various extracurricular activities and requires candidates to clear the IMU-CET examination for admissio

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility
  • Pass in 12th Standard examination with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English as separate subjects with a PCM average of not less than 60%.
  • The candidate must have secured minimum 50% marks in English language in 10th or 12th standard exam (As per DGS Norms).
Note
  • The candidate must have passed the 10th and 12th standard from a recognized board.
  • Qualifying in IMU CET is mandatory for admission.
  • Passport is mandatory.
Course Duration 4 years (8 semesters) (residential course).
Age Limit
  • Below 25 years at the time of commencement of the Programme.
  • The maximum age limit for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) Category shall be relaxed by 5 years.
  • The maximum age limit for candidates belonging to Non–creamy layer of Other Backward Classes (OBC) Category shall be relaxed by 3 Years.
  • The maximum age limit for women candidates of each Category shall be relaxed by an additional 2 Years.
Medical Standard
  • Candidates should be physically fit for sea service under standard norms, with eyesight up to 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye, 6/18 in the other eye, and with no color blindness.
  • Boys and Girls are eligible to apply.
Lateral Entry
  • Candidates can join the 2nd year of the 4-Year Marine Engineering Degree Course if they have passed a 3-year Diploma Course in Mechanical/ Electrical/Electrical & Electronics Engineering, with a minimum 55% of aggregate marks in the last year of the Diploma Course from AICTE or State Board of Technical Education-approved colleges.
  • Candidates can also join the 2nd year if they have passed the 1st year from an Engineering College in other streams like Mechanical or Electrical approved by AICTE, with a minimum 60% average marks.
  • The candidate must have secured a minimum of 50% marks in English language at 10th or 12th Standard or in the Degree/Diploma course conducted by a recognized Board or University.
Mechanical Engineering Stream
  • Three years Diploma in Automobile Engineering, Machine Tools and Maintenance/Plant Engineering, Production Technology, Production Engineering, Advanced Diploma in Tool & Die Making.
Electrical Engineering Stream
  • Three years Diploma in Electrical Power System.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Stream
  • Three years Diploma in Digital Electronics, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, Industrial Electronics, Electronics Engineering, Electronics Production & Maintenance, Instrumentation, Instrumentation & Control.
Passport Passport is mandatory.
Course Duration 3 years (residential course).

FAQs about Electro-Technical Officer

The salary of an ETO depends on a lot of factors such as the type of ship, experience, and the type of company he is sailing with. So, with 6 years of Salary, an ETO would earn up to 4000$ a month in bulk carriers, 5000$ a month in Oil tankers, 8000$  a month in LNG Carriers, and a whooping 10,000$ a month in Cruise lines.

  • Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English with a minimum of 50% marks in English in class 10th and 12th in standard exams and more than 55% in PCM. 
  • Passed 3-year Diploma with 60% marks or four years Degrees including lateral entry with 50% marks in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication  / Communication Engineering, or Electronics and Instrumentation or equivalent. 
  • The diploma/degree courses must have been recognized by any State or Central Government or the AICTE 

  • Short and simple answer YES. It is one of the best career choices you can go for after you engineering. There are many reasons as this career offers immense growth with a handsome salary and an opportunity to roam around the world while working at the same time. If a career is giving this much with the officer post and respect then you should definitely consider and learn more about it.

    To get more detailed insight about the ETO course you can click here to access the free ETO course on Merchant Navy Decoded

  • The opportunities after becoming an ETO is immense one such opportunity is to go for Chief Engineer. You can’t become a Chief Engineer directly, for that, you need to clear MEO Class IV first and then after becoming 4th Engineer, you can get promotions up to Chief Engineer.

    To know about the complete procedure CLICK HERE.

  • ETO Course just like any other maritime course is divided into two sections:- On-Campus Training and On-Board Training. After getting a sponsorship you will be imparted knowledge about seamanship and shipping for 4 months in college and after that, you will have training on board for 8 months after which you can appear for ETO CoC.

  • You can get an educational loan for ETO in Merchant Navy only if you are sponsored by any shipping company. To get complete details about the educational loan for merchant navy, go to the free ETO Course Series on Merchant Navy Decoded.

  • For ETO, you can fill out the forms of Anglo-Eastern, SCI MTI, Seven Islands, Great Eastern, Tolani Maritime, and Samundra Institute of Maritime Shipping after engineering. They will call you for the written and interview clearing which will get you to the medical exam and if you clear merchant navy medicals then you can go to college with the sponsorship.

Disclaimer :- The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and may not necessarily reflect those of Merchant Navy Decoded. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and disclaim any responsibility for it. Data and visuals used are sourced from publicly available information and may not be authenticated by any regulatory body. Reviews and comments appearing on our blogs represent the opinions of individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Merchant Navy Decoded. We are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on these reviews or comments.

Reproduction, copying, sharing, or use of the article or images in any form is strictly prohibited without prior permission from both the author and Merchant Navy Decoded.

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