MERCHANT NAVY B.Sc. Nautical Science @ MANET

The herald of civilization prompted trade through various channels. Travelling by sea and transporting goods and cargo via the vast expanse of seas and oceans has been done for centuries and despite development in the world of transport through various modes,import and export of cargo with the help of ships still remains one of the most popular forms of transport today. The reason is not a surprise to many as nearly 70 percent of the earth’s surface is made of water. Transporting cargo through ships is also economical convenient for many. There are close to 100,000 (one lakh) ships that ply the vast oceans of earth today.

Thus, the fact remains, that shipping is an indispensable option in the world of trade and commerce. This brings us to the most pressing question of who operates these ships and how do they manage to keep the humungous vessels afloat to carry out hassle free trade? The answer lies in the skills and intelligence of seafarers who with their remarkable insight and training are able to help the human race live a comfortable life by literally bringing goods from far-off places to their doorsteps.

Merchant Navy is a career option for young career aspirants who are intent on breaking through the mundane vigor of typical jobs and foray into a field that is versatile, exciting and perfect for those who find it difficult to be tethered to conventional career options. If a student wishes to pursue a career in Merchant Navy, he or she has an option to either work as an officer on deck or to work as an engineer in the engine room of the ship. While officers on deck are responsible for navigating the ship across the ocean and overall management of the ship, engineers in the engine room are responsible for maintaining the machines that allows the ship to take on the voyage safely.

Being a Deck officer is a matter of not just pride and glory but it also a career path that comes with it immense sense of leadership. In order to navigate the ship, the career aspirant has to complete training from a recognized training institute in nautical stream.

MANET was hence founded in the year 2001 to supply skilled and trained personnel to remain afloat and keep the maritime trade ticking. MANET’s three-year B.Sc. Nautical science course grooms young boys and girls into Navigating officers of tomorrow, who go on to take charge of navigation and management of the ship. A navigating officer is responsible not only for safe navigation but also for the loading/ discharging of cargo, taking care of the cargo at sea, radio communication and safety of crew and the vessel in its entirety. After completing requisite time as a navigating officer and successful completion of competency exams, one goes on to dawn the four stripes on his/her shoulders, symbolizing pen-ultimate responsibility of that of a captain of a ship, a job unmatched and a sense of responsibility second to none.

The training meted out to future navigating officers in the 3-year B.Sc. Nautical science course at MANET is enhanced by the special degree of facilities and equipment provided to give MANET cadets an edge over their peers. The state of the art “Ship-in-campus” Training ship- Vishwanath assembled at the MANET campus depicts an actual ship. It occupies a place of pride and is an excellent facility to develop hands-on training of the actual ship at sea.

The navigation simulator depicts real time navigational conditions an officer will face in future, hence arming the cadets with practical navigational experience, a privilege that very few maritime academies offer. Many other facilities such as the Seamanship lab, engine room simulator lab & life boat station to name a few attributes to the overall development of a navigating officer

At MANET, cadets are trained holistically; they develop a sense of leadership and officer like qualities’ and approach their jobs with professionalism and pride. This unmatched training has consequently helped cadets getting jobs at reputed companies across the globe. Fifteen batches of MANET B.Sc. Nautical science have been placed successfully and are working all over the globe. Rest assured, with the infrastructure to support and the committed faculty of senior seafarers, MANET endeavours’ to transform students into thorough navigating officers who would be highly effective and competent in their services wherever they go. Thus, there are innumerable benefits of joining Merchant navy. Besides the financial benefits it offers, people in Merchant navy get to see the world, enjoy the versatile environment and become global citizens of the world.

The Government of India has also launched many programs and undertaken many projects like the ambitious Sagarmala project that is expected to generate employment at a much faster rate in Merchant Navy. Almost 7 percent of the world’s merchant mariners are Indians and this figure is likely to increase due to the numerous opportunities that are opening up today in the marine field. Thus, the call of the captain on the ship as it manoeuvres its way across the ocean still enthrals many and attracts the young seafarers to carve a niche for themselves in the alluring world of Merchant Navy