How Much Does an Marine Officer Earn?

The payment scales are set as per the existing IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and ILO (International Labour Organisation) laws. While the salaries have set pattern across the globe, it differs among companies and more importantly, it increases with experience.Lately, we have been receiving several inquiries regarding the salary structure of Indian sea-going professionals. People often ask us how much will I make if I join the merchant navy at the start, what would be my salary after five years, and what amount will I have in my bank account ten years from now if I work on Cargo ships? We rebuff all such questions!First of all, it is important for every aspiring merchant navy professional to understand that the shipping industry is cyclical in nature. A cyclical nature in an industry means that there are boom and bust cycles (similar to the ‘bull’ or ‘bear’ terms for equity markets). A lot of the salary structure is decided by the cycle that the fiscal year is in. You cannot expect ridiculously high pays when there is an overall slowdown.Secondly, causes leading up to the bust as well as commodities that govern it- for example oil. When the price of oil was high, freights were high, shipowners were earning higher fees and better salaries were being paid out. It is not that the salaries right now (since we are recovering from a major slowdown) are obscenely less, they are still very good, but they are still lesser than what they were. For example, a Third Mate could get up to $3200 before 2008; now it generally hovers around the $2000-2800 bracket.

Third is the concept of supply and demand. There was a time when Junior Officers were in very high demand but now owing to the springing up many institutes, that gap has been filled, increasing the demand for the senior officers. It is important to understand that shipping, an industry that drives the economy, is dependant on the economy too! Whatever affects the world economy ends up affecting the demand and supply chain and therefore, shipping.It is very difficult to assess how much a person would earn while working in the merchant navy, for there are several aspects involved. Apart from the rank of the maritime professional, aspects such as the type of the ship, reputation of the company, and the person’s own ability to excel in the field play an important part in deciding what salary he or she takes home.Needless to say, one;s experience in the field counts A LOT towards finding and keeping employment, demanding a fat salary and everything else that comes with it. Shipping is such a field that the experience weighs a lot for the simple fact that a person who has covered a type/many types of ship over and over again is more conversant with shipboard equipment and has honed his skills to a point where will obviously be in demand.But as Marine Insight is here to help its readers, and considering the fact that it is difficult to provide a number for the salary of each rank, we came up with an idea of providing our readers with a “Salary Range” for each level in a Cargo Ship.The above table has been created on the basis of a salary survey done on 100 seafarers of different ranks

Tax Benefits

Paying taxes is a responsibility that everyone is aware of. However, people involved in the merchant marine are exempted from paying taxes, if they meet the requirements necessary for exemption purposes. A merchant marine professional has to spend a minimum of six months on-duty aboard a vessel, following which the professional will be exempt from paying tax for the specified financial year.

Photo Credits: Deck Cadet Ace John Alzaga

However, this is not professional tax advice and laws differ among countries so it is best to check up on the tax laws. For example, in India, one paid for his services while out of the country for 183 days or more has to be exempted from income tax.

Destinations Galore

People involved in the merchant marines get to experience exotic destinations across the whole world. And since jobs in merchant navy require an individual to spend extended periods of time at sea, there is no dearth of time when it comes to exploring these singular destinations.

While the work onboard in ports takes up half the time, the other half is available to visit the new country as long as the vessel is alongside. Based on the charter, the vessel might be in a different country every now and then, leaving the seafaring with a long list of countries he/she covers!

Confluence of Cultures

A professional involved in a merchant marine career gets to meet and mingle with people of different cultures and nationalities. This helps the individual to understand and function better as a team player and learn the nuances of different cultures and traditions at the same time. This automatically increases adaptability and brings about more awareness about what goes and what doesn’t in a different country.

A merchant navy officer is easily malleable and can fit in with people around the world without much effort owing to their regular exchange with foreign nationals. Even if a ship employs a single nationality crew, working with the port officials from different countries also adds a great deal of awareness among seafarers about cultures and customs.

Enhances Professionalism

Working in the merchant navy enables individuals to function better as a unit. Merchant mariners are required to possess good communication skills and extreme resourcefuness, along with following and maintaining high discipline. These qualities are further honed when a person spends considerable amount of time functioning as a part of a novel team in the high seas.

A person not only evolves professionally but also personally while working in merchant navy. This degree of professionalism comes with a great deal of responsibility towards the vessel and the crew; years of rigorous training in the field might make make certain tasks look mundane to a layman, however, to have achieved that level of expertise has come with it a lot of diligent work over the years.

Extensive Exposure

Merchant navy careers offer a lot of exposure to unexpected events, situations and emergencies. By facing such unmitigated events, professionals gain a widespread knowledge about dealing and facing such problems, in the event of them arising again. The exposure one gets in this field is unlike anywhere else and which helps a person to grow in every aspect.

The aspect of professionalism also kicks in wherein the ability to be quick with decisions and problem solving is paramount. Lack of precision can be devastating onboard and with constant exposure to a high degree of work ethic over the years, a seafarer becomes conditioned to sudden jolts!

Inspiring Adventure

A career in merchant marines is like having adventures on a day-to-day basis. It’s an adventurous life out there. Other routine jobs, involve people having to spend nine hours in an office. This is not for people who like nine-to-five jobs. Merchant mariners get to explore and view the excellent oceanic vista for days on end which, acts as inspiration unlike any.

Being at the mercy of the ocean naturally demands a considerable level of commitment from one’s part. It is not all sunshine and peaches at sea and ‘adventure’ can also mean that one has to be sharp at all times, ready to face the perils of the sea as well as the ship and her crew.

Regulated life-style

Punctuality and discipline are two very important qualities that a person gains through a merchant marine career. Since the oceans are highly unpredictable, a seaman has to be highly cautious, focused and alert to counter any eventuality, thereby reducing the repercussions substantially. These two qualities are imbibed in maritime professionals right from their college training.

The professionals are expected to follow a strict disciplined lifestyle according to navy rules and are also required to wear navy uniforms throughout their careers. In case you are uniform fan, maritime career is an exciting option for you. The discipline goes a long way in real life and brings about some really positive changes in everyday life. It is this discipline onboard that enables a young officer to become an adept Master years later.

Extended Vacations

Since the nature of the merchant navy job require long working periods, the vacations offered to merchant marine professionals are equally compensating. This enables these professionals to enjoy the best of both worlds – land and water.

A 2-4 months vacation is definitely long enough to unwind and follow all your passions, isn’t it? The vacation a seafarer gets is in its truest form- there is absolutely no stress of work while a seafarer is back home and he gets to enjoy the time with his family to the fullest.

People with unbridled enthusiasm and zest for life can very well opt for a merchant marine career. It would be satiating without the person ever experiencing any regrets whatsoever in his profession of choice.

Almost Negligible Social Life

The fourth aspect involved is about the amount of time spent offshore. If you are a social animal who likes to mingle with friends on every opportunity you can find, then better stay away from Merchant navy. The life at sea is a lonely one and takes a toll on your social life; some prefer it and some don’t- whoever tells you otherwise is lying outright. With the extent of work and lack of free time to pursue social interests, ship life can get quite hard for a person.

Modern ships have internet and satellite phones which virtually reduce the distance from friends and family; however, it is no replacement for the usual social life on shore and more than that, the work leaves little to no room to engage in long conversations over the phone! It is also prudent to remember that this aspect is more than negated by the all the new places that one gets to discover (subject to time available). If the person is adventurous, then the time period could go to the person’s advantage but if the person has a shy personality and needs emotional anchorage from friends and family then marine careers could be disadvantageous as it could lead to homesickness and unnecessary problems due to the person’s inability to adjust to the job.

Personality and Attitude

Seeing the same lot of people over months can automatically harbor resentment within an individual; if not resentment, then plain boredom! Men of strong mental constitution tend to keep it together throughout their contract by having a positive personality with the right attitude towards the work at hand as well the people he’s working with. Being a part of the merchant navy will allow a person to not only meet new people but learn lots of new things about different cultures of the world.

Family onboard

It is natural to want to have family on board. A merchant navy officer can take his/her family on board ship only if allowed by the company or when all the norms of the company are complied with. Here “family” for a married person means only the wife and kids and not parents. Parents are not allowed to go along with the seafarers. An entry-level officer will have a lesser chance to carry his immediate family than a management level officer, which again depends on the number of supernumeraries (family members) already present on a ship and the lifeboat capacity. Sometimes, the trading route also determines if family carriage will be allowed. For example, in HRA areas such as when passing the Gulf Of Aden, the family carriage is not advisable.

Apart from all these points, it is also necessary that an applicant who wants to join marine careers does not have any past criminal record. If a person does have any such record, then he or she will not be eligible to join merchant marine.

Merchant navy is a lucrative career option and for the person who follows all the necessary steps needed to be primarily taken, it is one of the best career options of today’s times. However, as with every field, there are few drawbacks attached to this as well. So choose the career of merchant navy wisely in case you are planning to.

If you feel you are not the kind of person, who can compartmentalize his or her mind, then better give this career a miss. This is why it becomes important before joining merchant navy to know what type of a person one is and whether merchant navy will suit the person or not. Have some time to yourself and then decide.

Job surety and high income

Opportunities onshore have increased many times over for merchant navy professionals who are willing to put in the time. While the power/command and the pay on board cannot be met fully on shore while starting out, putting in the years onshore or starting the right business can garner equal or sometimes, even more, income than at sea. As far as jobs at sea go, with the cyclical nature of the shipping industry, we are in the bust cycle at the moment which has caused a slowdown in jobs and recruitment; there is job crunch in the seafaring industry especially at the entry level (junior officers).

Candidates who cleared the required courses are finding it difficult to get a ship for completing their sea-time and training so that they can appear for competency exam to become officers. A qualified seafarer past his training phase on board gets paid rather well but the initial stages are hard (for deck/engine cadets and trainee ratings). The entry-level candidates earn as much as any land job person, and hence it is only when you pass the exam and have a COC, then you get a good salary flowing into your account.

Tax-Free Income

Most of the amateur seafarers remain confused about the taxation system for the income earned, which leads to non-filing of tax returns. The income earned on a foreign going vessel, seafarer may not always be tax-free (a general assumption). You need to complete the required sea time in a financial year to claim a tax-free income else you will be considered under the tax slab for paying the income tax as stated by the government of the country. For example, for Indian citizens, the tax earned on income earned from a foreign country is not taxable is the individual remains outside of the country for more than 183 days.

Merchant Navy Requirement

As with most professions, Right Qualification are necessary for this job too. Owing to the specialized nature of the work on board ship, it is mandatory to have the right skillset for this line of work as well. Respective streams for respective work on board require a very focused skill set to be applied practically.

therefore, the right institute is also to be taken into consideration as there are many to choose from. Different countries have their own merchant navy rules and academies so it becomes necessary to enroll in the appropriate Institute as required by the nation’s merchant marine laws to get the required qualifications.

The sea tests human endurance, both physically and mentally. It is important to be fit physically as well as to have the right mental constitution to be prepared for any situation onboard. You wouldn’t be selected if you are not fit. Since the merchant navy men have to be on the water for a major portion of the year, their health and fitness become a major concern. Fitness is an aspect that not only pertains to an individual but also the others on board ship; seeing as all work on board is teamwork and one job affects another. Therefore, lax performance in one area can put the other areas to risk. Safety being of paramount importance, it is not prudent to have unfit people on board.

Having the right grades and the passion to have a life at the sea will not get you a career in the merchant navy. In order to join a merchant navy course, you must have the physical fitness and medical requirements that are necessary to have a career on ships.

The candidate must be in good mental and physical health and free from any kind of bodily defect to interfere with the efficient performance required at the sea. Read on to find out if you are physically fit to join the merchant navy.

Constitution

There should be no evidence of weak constitution by way of imperfect development of muscles or serious malformation. Weight below 42 kg and height below 150 cm will be rejected. The chest should be well developed with a minimum range of expansion of 5 cm.

For female applicants, the height and weight may be reduced by 5 cm (2”) and 3 kg respectively. Weight to be proportionate to height and age.

Skeletal System

There should be no disease or impairment of functions of bones or joints, contracture or of deformity of chest or any joint, abnormal curvature of spine, deformity of feet like bow legs, knock knees, flat feet, deformity of upper limbs, malformation of the head, deformity from fractures or depression of the skull, deformity or uneven bending of the spinal column, fractures (healed) with a pin inside will be a disqualification.

Ear, nose and throat

There should be no impaired hearing, discharge or disease in either ear, unhealed perforation of the tympanic membrane or signs of acute or chronic suppurative otitis media or evidence of radical mastoid operation, evidence of disease of the bones and cartilage of the nose, nasal polypus or disease of nasopharynx or accessory sinuses. Loss or decay of teeth to such an extent as to interfere with efficient mastication. No disease of the throat, palate, tonsils or gums or any disease or injury affecting the normal function of either temporomandibular joint. Individuals with severe pyorrhoea are to be rejected.

The unaided average threshold at least 30db in the better ear and an average of 40db in the other within the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz and a whisper from a distance of not less than 5 meters can be heard.

Speech

There should be no impediment of speech

Lymphatic System

There should be no enlarged glands, tubercular or due to other diseases in the neck or other parts of the body. Thyroid gland should be normal.

Cardiovascular System

There should be no sign of functional or valvular or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. An electrocardiogram should be within normal limits. Systolic blood pressure should not exceed 150mm of Hg nor Diastolic above 90 mm of Hg.

Respiratory System

There should be no evidence of chronic or respiratory tract disease, pulmonary tuberculosis or previous history of this disease or any chronic disease of the lungs. X-ray of the chest should be normal.

The resting respiratory rate should be below 20 per minute and the holding time should not be less than 30 seconds.

Digestive System

There should be no evidence of any disease of the digestive system and that liver and spleen should not be palpable and there should be no abdominal tenderness on palpation.

Genitourinary System

There should be no palpable and enlarged kidneys. There should not be any disease of kidneys. Cases showing albuminuria, glycosuria or blood (RBC) in urine will be rejected. There should be no hernia or tendency thereto. Those who have been operated for a hernia may be declared fit provided:

(a) One year has elapsed after the operation. Documentary proof to be produced by the candidate.

(b) General tone of abdominal muscles should be good and

(c) There has been no recurrence of a hernia or complications with the operation. There should be no hydrocele, varicocele, spermatocele or any other defect of genital organs, no fistula and/or anal fissure or evidence of haemorrhoids (Piles), rectal polyps. There should be no active latent or congenital venereal diseases, undescended intraabdominal testicle on one side unassociated with a hernia, provided the other testicle is normal and that there is no physical or psychological effect due to undescended testicle will be accepted. An undescended testicle is retained in the inguinal canal or at the extra abdominal ring will be rejected.

Skin

There should be no skin disease unless temporary or trivial. Scars which by their extent or position are likely to cause disability or marked disfigurement are a cause for rejection.

Nervous System

There should be no history or evidence of mental disease of the candidate or in his family. Candidates having a history of fits incontinence or urine or enuresis will not be accepted. Mental or nervous irritability, abnormality of gait, defective functions of cranial nerves, incoordination, motor or sensory defaults will be rejected.

Eye Sight

There should not be any degree of squint or any morbid condition of eyes or of the eyelids that is liable to aggravate or recur, the pressure of trachoma and iris complication sequela. Candidates must possess good binocular vision (fusion faculty and a full field of vision in both eyes). Movement of the eyeballs must be full in all directions and the pupils should react normally to light and accommodation.

Below mentioned vision standards must be met by the applicant:

Deck Department: Vision should be 6/6 in better eye and 6/9 in the other eye;

Engine and Electrical Department: Vision should be 6/12 in each eye or 6/9 in better eye and 6/18 in the other eye;Any other defect which in the opinion of the medical board will interfere with the individual’s efficiency as an officer of the merchant navy.

Oral Health

The acceptance or rejection on account of loss or decay of teeth depends upon the relative position of the sound teeth; a sufficient number of teeth must be present for efficient mastication.

Musculoskeletal System

There should be no defect of the musculoskeletal system that could interfere with the discharge of their duties (muscular power, balance, mobility, and coordination should be unimpaired). Limb prosthesis would not be acceptable.

Mandatory Clinical Test:

Other than physical observation, various numbers of Clinical Tests are carried out to make sure that all the Standards are met.

Complete Blood Count (Hb, TWBC, ESR);
Routine Urine(Albumin, sugar and microscopic);
Blood Sugar;
Audiometry;
Vision Test (Distant, Near, Colour);
X-ray of Chest; and
Electrocardiogram (ECG).

Additional Medical Examination for Seafarers onboard Tankers: Seafarers on board a Tanker engaged in the carriage of carcinogenic cargoes namely Benzene, Butane, Diesel oil for marine engines shall undergo a medical examination that may include blood and liver function tests including blood count evaluation.

Medical Condition considered before issuing Medical Certificate

The Following medical condition generally renders a person unfit for work at sea:

Infectious and Parasitic Diseases- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Enteritis, Hepatitis (active or chronic, within 6 months), Typhoid, Malaria Lice, Scabies, Sexually Transmitted Disease or any other infectious or parasitic disease in its communicable or carrier state which would present a health hazard to other crew members or passengers.
Malignant Neoplasms- Any malignancy currently receiving treatment.
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic conditions and Immunity Disorders- Diabetes Mellitus, Adrenal insufficiency, Immunosuppressive therapy, Obesity or any disease of the endocrinal gland.
Disease of the Blood and Blood-forming organs- Anemia, Myelodysplasia, Splenomegaly or any significant disease of the haemopoietic system.
Mental Disorders- Active Alcohol (substance abuse or dependence), acute psychosis, psychoneurosis major depression, Dementia or Personality disorder.
Nervous System- Ataxia, Vertigo, Convulsive disorder, Epilepsy, Unsteadiness of gait, Post concussion syndrome, Stroke, Tremors, Migraine, Syncope, Epistaxis or Sinusitis.
Oral Health- Mouth or gum Infection (until treated) or any Dental defects.
Cardiovascular system- an aortic aneurysm, Arrhythmia, Hypertension, Coronary bypass grafting, Coronary angioplasty, Claudication, Myocardial infarction, Varicose veins, Chronic varicose ulcerations, thrombophlebitis, Haemorrhoids, Varicocele or any cases of High/Low blood pressure.
Respiratory system- Bronchial Asthma, Chronic bronchitis, Pneumothorax (within 12 months), Tumour or Pulmonary Koch’s with less than 12 months treatment.
Digestive system- Abdominal lump, Abscess, Appendicitis, Cholelithiasis, Diarrhoea, Gastric Ulceration, Haematemesis (within 3 months), Hepatitis (within 6 months), Jaundice, Pancreatitis, Peptic Ulcer, Cirrhosis of the Liver, Splenomegaly, Hepatomegaly or Fissure(Unless Operated).
Genitourinary system- All cases of proteinuria, Glycosuria, Nephritis, Urinary obstructions (if not remediable), Renal or ureteric calculus, Removal of the kidney, Renal transplant, Renal insufficiency, Incontinence of urine, Prostatism ith retention, Urethral discharge or any Gynaecological conditions.
Pregnancy
Skin Condition- Al infection of the skin (until satisfactorily treated), Acute Eczema, Dermatoses (severe or uncontrolled), Manifestations of the systemic disease (eg. Lupus, allergy), Carcinoma or any Burn hindering the natural movement.
Do note that health and physical fitness tests are carried out at regular intervals of time. They are conducted every time before boarding the ship and if any complication arises, the candidate will not be allowed to join the ship. Passing the test during the time for admission in the course does not ensure you are fit for sea life. There are some tests which are carried in between the course (hearing compatibility test etc.) which if failed will lead to termination of the cours

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I am MD AHAD KHAN,initiator of this Channel,Age of 19,currently enrolled as a trainee officer Cadet at BANGLADESH MARINE ACADEMY understandably, as a merchant navy personal i have to spend a large part of my professional life on ships in the middle of the ocean but it also Gives me the opportunity to visit new and exotic places all around the globe in short span of time & see the World.Apart From my Profession Riding Bike bring me a sense of fun and freedom to life that help me to minimize the impact of chronic stress.At my early age,I was fond of cycling.Now i developed that same hobby as a passionate Biker,riding bike provide me an outlet for stress. During traveling to Others Country for my professional Cause and as a passionate bike rider,its become part of my Hobby & interest to freeze those incredible moment of life by photograph And Sharing Those with Other.when i share with others its actually like creating more joy,gratitude,trust,and community – not only for myselves,but also for the world.Sharing my photograph,feelings,life experience & other content through my website,YouTube or Facebook page helps me to release the emotions i have pent up inside.It helps me to document my life and journey of those umorous moments.It allows me to talk through my situation & point of view which may lead to understand me better,sort out my thoughts for a clear mind with decreased stress level. A million thanks to you for your Time&interest.Please let me know your opinion,it will be my great privelege.Your feedback,guidance,advice is also important in shaping my mistakes into skills

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