A career in Marine Engineering is challenging as well as rewarding. Marine Engineers have complete responsibility of the ship's engine room. Their responsibilities involve development and designing of the engines related to ships and propulsion system.Marine scientists work in a surprising variety of disciplines. Examples include meteorology, physics, chemistry, geology, physical oceanography, paleontology, and biology. Marine science or marine engineering also includes archaeology, anthropology, sociology, engineering and other studies of human relationships with the sea. Many marine scientists have multiple specialties or work as part of multi disciplinary teams.
Job openings are both in Indian and global shipping firms. Marine Engineers are specifically qualified to join the Merchant Navy, or public and private shipping companies. Marine engineers are also employed by Engine production firms, Ship building firms, Research bodies, Ship design firms and also in the Indian Navy.
Marine jobs are highly paid and enjoyable. The marine engineers get NRI status, which is, tax-free income based on their service at sea, ex-India. They also get the opportunity to see the world through sailing as a profession without any extra expense. Luxurious life through lucrative salary comes as a big compensation being away from home.
Eligibility
For doing a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering or nautical science one should have passed 10 + 2 science with physics, chemistry, maths and English. The course is of 4 years duration. After successful completion of the course, degree viz. B.E. or BTech is awarded to the students. In most institutes candidates are admitted through an entrance examination, which is normally held in the month of May every year at various centres all over India followed by viva-voice and medical examination. Other important institutes like R.L. Institute of nautical sciences, conduct an all India level online test to check knowledge of students in PCM, Psychometric and IQ awareness.
Candidates aspiring for a degree course at TS Chanakya, Mumbai and Marine Engineering Research Institute Kolkata, should qualify the Joint Entrance Examination conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), which assesses the candidate’s knowledge of physics, chemistry and mathematics. The examination is followed by personal interviews/counseling, where the interviewers assess the degree of alertness, and awareness of the external environment in the candidates and their suitability for such a career.
Essential Attributes
Marine engineers must possess the following personal attributes to succeed in the field
1. Organising ability
2. Practicality
3. Ability to get on well with people of all types at all levels in the hierarchy
4. Ability to keep calm under pressure and in crisis
5. Enjoy working with tools
6. Good at conceptualising forms and structures
7. Knack for numbers
8. Excellent communication skills
9. Physical fitness
10. Liking for the sea travel
Career Prospects
After successful completion of BE/BTech in Marine Engineering/nautical science, one can join as fourth engineer or third assistant engineer. Since the job on the ship entails residing on ship for a major part of the year there are other exciting avenues as well. The other avenues include -
The marine Engineers can remain within the ambit of the shipping industry and join marine workshops at land i.e. at the ports. Alternatively, the Marine Engineers can join Ship manufacturing Companies, which are equally good paymasters.
The shipping industry being the back-bone of the economy of any country, these days the Marine Engineers are employed in the I.T. sector in a major way, apart from the Consultancy Companies like Price Waterhouse Coopers and DCL. Construction Companies, Power sector, Steel industry, Electronic industry etc.
For those who want to join Government Service can join Directorate General Shipping of India. Those with entrepreneurial skills can enter the field of entrepreneurship.
Those Marine Engineers who have a passion for academics can pursue post graduation and enter the field of academics where the demand for qualified academicians in this field is growing very fast.
Pay-Package
The starting salary of a fresh Marine engineering graduate usually starts with USD 750 per month as a fifth engineer. It can go even high if the candidate wishes to join an oil tanker. The wages cross USD 2500 when he is upgraded to the next level, such as fourth engineer. In each promotion, the salary goes upward by an addition of USD 1000+. Interestingly, the Chief Engineer’s present day salary is almost USD 6500 and above.
Institutes/Universities
Marine Engineering & Research Institute
P-19, Taratolla Road Kolkata: 700 088. West Bengal, India
Phone : (033) 2401 4673/4674/4675/4676/4678/3677, 2401-1943/1944/1945
Fax : (033) 2401 4431/4333
Website : http://www.merical.ac.in/
Course Offered : Degree in Marine Engineering
College Of Engineering (Andhra University)
Visakhapatnam - 530 003
Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Phone (Office) : 91 891 2844819
Webpage : http://www.andhrauniversity.info/engg/marine/index.html
Courses Offered : M.E. Degree Course (Marine Engg & Mechanical Handling), B.E. Mechanical Engineering (with Marine Engg. Electives)
Mohamed Sathak Engineering College
Kilakarai - 623 806, Ramnad District, Tamilnadu
Email : rnd_msecklk@sancharnet.in
Fax : (04567) 245344
Phone : 04567 - 241493
Courses Offered : B.E. Marine Engineering
Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training (MANET)
Gat No. 140, Loni Kalbhor, Rajbaug,
Pune-Solapur Highway, Pune-412 201
Phone : + 91 20 26912901 / 02 / 03/ 04
Fax : 269915222
E-mail : manet@mitpune.com
Website : http://www.manetpune.com/
Courses Offered : B.E. Marine Engineering
Tolani Maritime Institute
Talegaon - Chakan Road
Induri, Talegaon
Pune - 410 507
Phone : + 91 (2114) 241960 + 91 (2114) 241870 to 73 (Office ext. 3001, 3003, 3004, 3013, 3014 and 3016)
Fax : + 91 (2114) 241517
E-mail : info@tmi.tolani.edu
Website : http://www.tolani.edu/tmi/
Courses Offered : B S Marine Engineering
R.L. Institute of nautical sciences
contact person: v. Prabhakar
Email: rlins@rlins.in
Address: T V R Nagar, Aruppukottai Road, Madurai 625 022, Tamilnadu, India
Phone: 91 452 3918 615
Fax: 91 452 3918618
Website: www.rlinstitutes.com
Courses offered:
B.S. (Marine Engineering) (4 years course)
B.S. (Nautical Technology) (3 year at Institute + 1 year at Sea)
Elementary First Aid (EFA)
Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
Personal Safety & Social Responsibility (PSSR)
Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF)
Oil Tanker Familiarization (OTF)
Welding
Control systems & Instrumentation
Training Centre, The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Maritime Training Institute
52-C, Adi Shankaracharya Marg,
Near Powai Lake, Powai,
Mumbai 400 072
Phone : + 91 22 2570 1430/31/32/33 extn 1014/1022
Course Booking Office Tel. No. : + 91-22-25700538 (D)
Fax : + 91 22 25700338
E-mail : coursebooking@sci.co.in,
Website : http://www.shipindia.com/
Courses Offered : B.Sc. Degree in Nautical Science
Indian Maritime College
10A, Masilamani Street, T. Nagar, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, India Pin code: 600 017
Phone : 91-44-24336953
Fax : 91-44-24322819
Video Conferencing : 91-44-24325266
E-mail : info@indianmaritimecollege.com
LBS College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Maritime Studies and Research
Hay Bunder, Seweri, Mumbai - 400033
Phone : 23719944/46
Fax : 23739784
E-mail : lbscamsar@vsnl.com
Padmabhushan Vasantdada Patil Pratishthan's College of Engineering
Eastern express highway, Near Everad Ngr.,
Chunabhatti, Chembur, Mumbai-400002
Courses Offered : B.E. Marine Engineering
T.S. Chanakya, Karaus
New Mumbai-400706
Courses Offered : 3 Year B.Sc. (Nautical Sciences), One year Diploma course in Nautical Science leading