Gone are the days when Cadets used to clear their 2nd mates and were directly employed as 2nd officer. Two contracts in as a 2nd officer and there you were Chief officer.
Let’s wake up and talk about Reality
The navigating officer, as the name suggests is responsible for the navigation of the vessel and is also responsible for the loading of cargo and maintenance on deck. The deck officer first starts off as a deck cadet and on completing requisite sea-time and examination goes on to become a third officerand then a second officer, later a Chief Officer and then a Captain of a ship.
For example, if you wanted to be a deck officer, an interview with one of the shipping companies for the post of a deck cadet would be the place to start. If selected, you would be sent to a pre-sea training institute for a year, followed by an apprenticeship on board a ship for 18 months. After that, you can appear for the exams conducted by the Director General of Shipping, which would qualify you to be sent on board as a third officer. Depending on performance and experience gained, you could be promoted to the position of a second officer. Another examination after 18 months would make you a Chief Officer and then only 12 months and a Masters examination stand in the way of your becoming a Captain of a ship.
How to Join
Education – 10+2 science with minimum 65% aggregate and PCM with not less than 70% marks
OR
B.Sc. in Physics, Maths, Chemistry or Electronics with Physics as an individual subject in any one of the years with an aggregate of minimum 65% in the final year. [10+2 PCM >= 65%] OR
In the final year from 1.I.T. or from a college recognized by AICTE/ UGC, provided that the candidate must have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) from a recognized
Board [10+2 PCM >= 65%]
English – At least 60% marks in either 10th or 12th
Age – The minimum age should be 17 yrs and maximum age should be 25 yrs on the date of commencement of course (Course usually commences on 1″February and 1′ August during every year).
Relaxation of 5 years is available for SC/ST candidates and 2 years for Girl candidates
Medicals – Physically fit as per ILO standards with 6/6 eyesight & normal colour vision. For detailed information refer to DGS website by https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/
Assuming you have done DNS course and you are placed in a good company.
Cadetship – 18 months of cadetship usually done on 3 different ships, on an average i am assuming 3 months of holidays after every ship- 27 months total
2nd mate Functions – 4 months post sea course with various advanced courses which will take around 2 months to complete, then written exams and orals on an average it takes around 4 months, then getting COC if all goes well it takes around 2 months.- 12 months total.
Waiting – average waiting period of about 3–6 months for joining as a fresh 3rd mate, it took me around 9 months, i am considering 6 months
Seatime- seatime required for chief mates functions is 18 months, so considering 3 months holidays after every ship it will take u around 27months
Chief mate functions- phase 1 phase 2 takes around 6 months then for exams and orals i am considering 6 months – total time 12 months if all goes well.
Promotion- promotion is really bad nowadays, even for becoming 2nd mate companies prefer seatime of atleast 12 or 18 months as a 3rd mate, and promotion depends on the recommendations from various masters onboard, i am considering 18 months as a 3rd mate and 18 months as a second mate for becoming chief mate considering 3 months holidays after every 6 months – total time 54months.
Masters function- its a 1 month course and orals will take 5–6 months to clear sometimes earlier- considering 6 months total as an average.
Promotion to Captain- on an average people sail for around 24 to 36 months before becoming Master, considering 2 months holidays after 4 months onboard a ship- total time 54 months
Total time- 27+12+6+27+12+54+6+54 -198 months i.e 16.5 years
On an average it takes around 16.5 years for a deck cadet to become Captain.
That’s it my friends
