In a career as a merchant navy officer, one has to perform duties in harsh weather conditions. At certain locations the sea is rough and despite this, merchant navy officers have to work round the clock, to ensure that there is the timely and safe delivery of the cargo. There are good chances that the cold weather conditions can take a heavy toll on the physical conditions of a person.

Likely

In a career as a merchant navy officer, the opportunity to see the world and get paid while doing so, is the main attraction of the job. Merchant navy is involved in transporting cargo from one place to another, hence there is a lot of travelling involved. In fact, merchant navy officers spend weeks and even months travelling around the globe transporting cargo. Merchant navy officers do dock at ports, but they not do not necessarily leave the ship.

Full Time

Career as a merchant navy officer offer has two shifts – Full-time and contract basis: Being a merchant navy officer is a full-time job if they are working in an office environment. A merchant navy officer stays for months at a stretch on the ship. Those working as merchant navy officers get compensatory leave allowance for months. In most cases, if merchant navy officers stay for eight months on the ship, they get a compensatory leave for four months. Those working on ships are generally hired on a contract basis.

Contractual, Permanent

In a career as a merchant navy officer, one either works on contractual wages or round the year wages. On contractual wages, the salary is paid for the time a person serves onboard. The salary is credited in the first week of every month to the account. Suppose it is a six-month contract, then the person has to stay six months constantly onboard. He would get paid until the end of the contract. Once the officer signs off from the ship, the wages stop. On round the year wages, the officers are paid around the year. They have to join back the ship once their leaves are finished. Generally, they get twenty days of leave for every one month they have served on the ship. For six months, they might serve four months on the ship and will get two months compensatory leave allowance. If a seafarer does not join back after his/her leaves get finished, then the wages are stopped. While working on a ship, the safety of the ship, cargo and those around should be of prime importance.

Shipyards, Sea, Ship

In a career as a merchant navy officer, one usually works on a ship for long periods. However, after gaining substantial experience some opt to work for company offices looking after the logistics and other work.

A career as a merchant navy officer requires its employee to work on all kinds of ships, although most merchant marine ships are freighters or tankers that carry cargo. They are away from home for long periods. Major portion of jobs are available around cities near coastal areas. Cities like Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Mumbai are the main spots of merchant business.

Likely

A career as a merchant navy officer has a lot of time pressure is quite high in the profession. A merchant navy officer stays for months at a stretch on the ship. Those working as merchant navy officers get compensatory leave allowance for months. In most cases, if merchant navy officers stay for eight months on the ship, they get a compensatory leave for four months. Those working on ships are generally hired on a contract basis.

Career as a merchant navy officer requires working hours for marine engineers are eight to nine hours per day. However, sometimes they’re required to work up to twenty hours per day when involved in bunkering, engine maintenance.

The work conditions of the merchant navy vary. Those who work on a contractual basis have to be full time on deck depending on the contractual term which is for 6 months or 9 months. After that, they get relieved and may look for other employment opportunities. A merchant nave who work on a permanent basis gets 2 to 3 months off after serving 6 to 8 months on deck.