1) FAQs on Maritime Industry Matters
Ans. Yes, it is possible but you will have to ensure your certificates are valid at the time of re-joining and you may also require undergoing some refresher training. Besides, there are possibilities that you will be offered a demoted rank for some time.
Ans. Typically at times, the voyage could be up to 30 days or more.
Ans. Duration would be 12 months during training.
Ans. Many of the shipping companies are not investing enough in training cadets and only expecting to employ experienced officers. This is one of the reasons for the shortage. Other reasons could be, more ships were built in a very short period not taking into account the availability of manpower resulting in acute shortages.
Ans. At this stage, the top 4 senior officers (Master, C/O, C/E, 2/E) are allowed to carry family onboard.
Ans. Yes, girls are eligible for joining the merchant navy but CAAMN is not structured to train girl cadets at this moment. This is under review and girl cadets will be trained at CAAMN in the future.
Ans. No, you will not be entitled to salary when you are on leave. During the onboard training period, the trainees are paid stipend and not salary.
Ans. A Deck Cadet/Engine Cadet can become a Master/Chief Engineer in eight to ten years provided he appears and passes all his promotion examinations in time and also completes the necessary Sea-time and Post Sea Courses on time.
Ans. As per Seamen's Employment Office Order the retirement age of the person from seafaring profession is 60 yrs. This rule also provided discretion to the Director, Seamen's Employment Office, to permit the employment of seamen over 60 years of age, but not exceeding 65, provided the ship owner accepted the engagement of the seaman and the prescribed medical authority declared him 'Fit', before engagement.
Ans. It depends but if you stop sailing after becoming a Master or a Chief Engineer, there will be many opportunities at the shore for Marine Superintendent, Technical Superintendent, Manning Superintendent, Vetting Superintendent, Port Pilot or Harbor Master, Conservator of Ports, etc.
Ans. Merchant Navy is one of the safest and most economical mediums for transportation. Ships are built to operate in the safest way but safety depends on the human being who operates the ship. The compensation varies from type and extent of injury but for death, compensation is around the US $80,000.
Ans. In the majority of countries, seafarers are issued a special pass to go ashore when the ship is in port. In some countries such as America, you will need a visa to go ashore.
Ans. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
2) FAQs on CAAMN and Examination / Test Matters
Ans. Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire: a self-report personality inventory developed to measure the 16 personality dimensions that emerged from his factor analysis of a wide range of traits.
Ans. You will have a written test and interview by the interview panel.
Ans. It is easy provided you have learned what is trained during your training at CAAMN as well as onboard training.
Ans. The written test paper consists of 50 questions and each question carries 2 marks. The duration of the test is 2 hours. Test paper comprises of questions from the following subjects:
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Logic
- Physics
- English
Ans. The conduct of final examination for the GP Ratings is outsourced by the DG Shipping to the“Board of Examination for Seafarers Trust” based at Navi Mumbai. The Examination is held in three parts (Oral. Practical and Written), the Trainees have to secure a minimum of 60% in each part to be declared a pass in the examinations.
Ans. There is no fee for filing the application form nor downloading the prospectus from the CAAMN website. Rs.300 is charged if you want the hard copy of the prospectus.
Ans. Yes, you will have to pay for the medical test. The medical test has to be carried out only by a DG Shipping Approved Doctor.
Ans. The loan process will be your responsibility and you will have to choose the bank that will be willing to give you the loan. We will assist you in providing letters to assist in the loan process.
Ans. On successful completion of training the trainee is provided the following certificates and documents:
- Pre-Sea Training Certificate
- Personal Survival Techniques
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
- Elementary First Aid
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
- Oil Tanker Familiarization (Optional)
- Continuous Discharge Certificate (C.D.C)
3) FAQs on Physical and Academic Requirement Matters
Ans. Physically fit and meet the standards laid out by the Director-General of Shipping. More details can be found on the DG Shipping website at www.dgshipping.com.
Ans. It depends on the extent of the physical deformity and as long as the deformity does not form any kind of disability to perform the duties assigned onboard a ship, one should be fit for sea service. However, this will be confirmed only by the company Doctor.
Ans. It is usual for most of the seafarers to have seasickness when he starts his sea career but everyone gets used to the sea within a short period.
Ans. Seasickness is a feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo experienced after spending time on a craft on the water. It is typically brought on by the rocking motion of the craft, but people who are particularly vulnerable to the condition can feel seasick simply by setting foot on a boat, even if the vessel is in a dry dock. Everyone doesn’t need to get it.
Ans. Requirements are 6/6 vision in both eyes (without visual aids); no color-blindness for Nautical Officers and for Engineering Officers. Use of corrective lenses permitted but the maximum permissible limits, at entry, are 6/12 in each eye or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye, for Distant Unaided Vision. An individual can decide to do whatever is required to meet the requirement and as long as one meets the above requirement, he will be eligible for Merchant Navy.