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The Merchant Navy offers jobs that come with good pay and the chance to travel, though it involves being away from home for a while. Salaries can range widely: starting positions like deck cadets might earn around INR 4 lakh to 5 lakh per year, while top positions like Captains can make up to INR 90 lakh to 1.5 crore annually, depending on experience and the type of ship.
The salary of an Indian Merchant Navy officer or engineer can range anywhere from ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per month and can get up to ₹15,00,000 per month when you become a Captain or an Engineer in the Merchant Navy.Â
It is one of the most crucial factors when it comes to the salary of seafarers. As salary of a Seafarer increases with rank and knowledge. However experience alone cannot affect the salary of a seafarer, there are two other factors as well.Â
It is the main factor on which the salary of a seafarer depends. As you get higher in rank your salary also increases with your rank. It can even reach up to 15-16 lakhs per month if you are in a top rank in the right company or ship.Â
The type of ship or company you are sailing with also impacts your salary drastically. For, instance if you are a Chief Engineer on an LNG or LPG Ship then your salary can even be up to ₹18,00,000 per month while on other ships it can only reach up to 10 or 11 lakhs per month.Â
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If you want to go after the 12th then you can go either in the Deck Department or in the Engine Department where your salary can start from ₹30,000 to ₹15,00,000 per month. The salary in the Deck or Engine Department is almost same with the respect to rank and experience.Â
As we are going to discuss the salary of the Merchant Navy the first thing that you should know is that the Merchant Navy is comprised of different ranks so we are going to work on the salary from bottom to top i.e. Deck Cadet to Master of the ship. The salary that a Cadet receives on his first ship is between ₹30,000 to ₹70,000
The third officer is the first rank that you will be awarded after clearing your 2nd Mate CoC Exams as a Deck Cadet. At this post, your salary increases drastically with the responsibility. The salary at the rank of 3rd Officer can vary based on Experience, and the type of ship and company a sailor is sailing with.
| Rank | 3rd Officer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The 3rd Officer is in charge of the firefighting apparatus and lifesaving appliances and is sometimes also referred to as the Ship’s safety officer, he is also a bridge watchkeeper. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ship | ₹2,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ship | ₹2,15,000 to ₹3,50,000 |
The second officer is one of the most crucial ranks onboard that you can get with on-board promotion. The second officer is responsible for the navigation and route planning of the ship, with that, the second officer is also the medical officer of the ship earning quite a good fortune while being on board.
| Rank | 2nd Officer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | A 2nd Officer is the ship’s navigator and on occasion the medical officer, he is also a bridge watchkeeper and the designated communication officer. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ship | ₹2,15,000 to ₹3,50,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ship | ₹3,30,000 to ₹4,00,000 |
The chief officer is the second top rank onboard the ship after the Captain. A Chief Officer is responsible for the maintenance and welfare of the crew onboard. He also acts as a Duty officer for the new Deck Cadets as he is most experienced after the Captain. Let’s look into the salary of a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy.Â
| Rank | Chief Officer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | A Chief Officer is responsible for the cargo operations, he/she is also in charge of the management of deck crew, safety & firefighting operations, environmental protection, and serving as the vessel security officer. |
| Salary in Dry Cargo Ships | ₹5,40,000 to ₹7,10,000 |
| Salary in Tanker Ships | ₹6,50,000 to ₹8,00,000 |
| Rank | Captain |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | A Captain or a Master is responsible for the overall functioning of a vessel and holds the ultimate command over it. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹6,60,000 to ₹8,30,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹7,50,000 to ₹12,00,000 |
Just like the Deck Department, there is the engine department that maintains and makes the engine of the ship run smoothly. It is these engineers who make it possible for Deck Officers to navigate the ship, so, it is normal to pay them generously. We will look into the salary of Marine Engineers and learn how much they get compared to the Deck Department.
In the Engine Department, the lowest rank is Trainee Marine Engineer which is a for training onboard. This is the only rank where you can learn as much as possible and ask as many questions as you want, no one will tell you to stop asking doubts. Hence, in this position, your main focus should be on learning skills and not on salary, but still to give you an idea we will discuss the salary.
| Rank | Trainee Marine Engineer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The Trainee Marine Engineer is a trainee under the 2nd Engineer, he/she assists the senior engineers in their respective duties and assists the 2nd Engineer in his night rounds. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Rank | 4th Engineer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The 4th Engineer is in charge of the purifier, compressor, and machinery other than the primary engine, auxiliary engine, and boilers. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹2,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹2,15,000 to ₹3,50,000 |
| Rank | 3rd Engineer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The 3rd Engineer serves as the 2nd Engineer’s understudy maintains the sea and port watchkeeping maintains the boiler, and performs the cooler water tests |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹3,30,000 to ₹4,00,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹3,30,000 to ₹4,16,000 |
| Rank | 2nd Engineer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The major responsibility of a 2nd Engineer is to oversee the daily operation and maintenance of all machinery on board, including the ballast system and firefighting equipment. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹5,40,000 to ₹7,10,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹6,50,000 to ₹8,00,000 |
| Rank | Chief Engineer |
|---|---|
| Job Profile | The Chief Engineer’s major responsibility is to guarantee the safe and effective functioning of the engine department. |
| Salary on Dry Cargo Ships | ₹6,60,000 to ₹8,30,000 |
| Salary on Tanker Ships | ₹7,50,000 to ₹12,00,000 |
Apart from the Deck and Engine Department there is another kind of department that is as important as the Deck or Engine Department i.e.  Rating Department. GP Rating does not offer an Officer position but their work is comprised of various Decks and Engine-related duties that are crucial to maintain the condition of the ship. If we talk about their salaries, it is not near the salary of an Officer but it’s not that low either. So Let’s look at the salaries given to Deck and Engine Rating.Â
| Rank | Average Salary Per Month |
| Bosun | ₹1,00,000 to ₹ 1,60,000 |
| Pumpman | ₹1,00,000 to ₹ 1,60,000 |
| Deck Fitter | ₹1,00,000 to ₹ 1,60,000 |
| Able-Bodied Seaman (AB) | ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,24,000 |
| Ordinary Seaman (OS) | ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 |
| Trainee OS | ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 |
| Rank | Average Salary Per Month |
| Fitter | ₹1,00,000 to ₹ 1,60,000 |
| Motorman | ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,24,000 |
| Wiper | ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 |
| Trainee Fitter/Wiper | ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 |
| Rank | Average Salary Per Month |
| Steward | ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 |
| Chief Cook | ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,60,000 |
The top ranks in the Merchant Navy include Chief Engineer and Captain of a Ship that can fetch you a salary of up to 10 to 14 lakhs per month.Â
The Merchant Navy Salary per month depends on the rank, and experience your salary can be from ₹30,000 per month up to ₹14,00,000 per month when you reach a certain rank.Â
 The starting salary in the merchant navy is different in different companies, but more or less it lies between ₹30,000 to ₹70,000.
There are 3 easy steps through which you can join the Merchant Navy
These are the three steps that you need to clear everywhere to join the Merchant Navy.Â
Merchant Navy is a contractual-based profession that means you will be paid till the time you are onboard ship. Generally, a contract is around 6 to 8 months long depending on the company and rank of a seafarer.
According to DG Shipping, the minimum and maximum age for a Diploma in Nautical Science, B.Sc in Nautical Science, and B.Tech Marine Engineering is 17 to 25 respectively. Whereas you can join the ETO course till the age of 28 with some relaxation in age for female candidates.Â
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