CAREER OPTION FOR NAVAL PERSONS

[stanley clement]

The merchant marine is another, non-combatant and essential service
that can be very satisfying and certainly more monetarily rewarding.It
came to existence as soon as men were able to build a craft that could
float and carry people and cargo. The merchant ships employ a hugh
number of workers to carry and deliver goods from one country to
another. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, container ships,
barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk carriers, refrigerators ships,
passenger ships,as well as roll off/roll on ships.

Barge carrying ships are long, usually flat boats which are usually
wed or manouvered by other towing vessels.

Roll on / Roll off ships are designed to carry vehicles which can be
loaded at ports by being driven on and can be unloaded by being driven
off.

Bulk carriers- Cargo such as grain, oil, ore has lot of weight. Bulk
carriers are so designed that they can enter shallow waters and narrow
channels. they can be loaded and unloaded by special equipment in very
short time.

Tankers are ships which carrys oil and other petroleum products in
large tanks built inside the ship and VLCC's are Very Large Carrying
Containers.

Refrigerator ships are those type which have huge cold storage plants
built in them . They are used to carry perishable food stuff and items
on specific service routes.

Passenger ships-can range anywhere between small ferries to Trans-
Atlantic vessels.

Nature of Work
The main functional areas where Merchant Marine can be pursued as
career are as follows.


Deck / Navigation Officer Deck or navigation officer as the name
suggest , are in charge of the navigation of the ship. The Captain or
Master is in command of the ship. He is not only responsible for
vessel navigation but also for the discipline on the ship and safety
of passengers,crew,and the cargo. He is incharge for assigning
organisational duties for ships operation, navigation and maintenance
with the chief mate. The officer must ensure the observance of
national and international codes of conduct guiding sea
transportation. It is essential for the navigation officers to obtain
a certificate of competency. He is assisted by chief mate also known
as first mate who is incharge of the cargo planning and deck work. The
second mate is in charge of mails, the maintenance of all equipment
and charts used for navigation. The third mate is responsible for
maintenance of lifeboats and firefighting equipment. He acts like a
signal officer in charge of all signalling equipment and assists with
cargo work.

Engineering Officers The ships engineers have complete responsibility
of the ships engine room like the main engine, boilers, pumps
hydraulic and fuel systems and the ships electrical generating plant
and distribution system. the chief engineer is responsible for all
machineries, equipments, auxillaries. the job demands maintaining of
documents of working as well as repairing machinery.fuel consumption
and requirment is to be logged. Second engineers are responsible for
the maintenance of lubricating system, engine room auxillaries and
electric equipments. The third engineer is responsible for fuel and
water , supervises tank soundings, and logs the consumption of water
and fuel. the boiler room equipment , the feed water system, pumps and
condensers are monitored by him. The forth engineer is responsible for
the operation and maintenanceof engine room auxillaries. Electrical
officer maintain and repair all electrical circuits and motors.

Stewards/Service department This department is responsible for
preparing of food and meals for the crew on board . they also maintain
living quarters of the crew and the mess halls.The chief steward
maintains inventories of food stuffs, linen, bedding, furniture, etc.
The other staff are the chief cook, baker and attendants.

Merchant Navy Rating There are three kinds of ratings: deck rating,
engine room rating and catering rating.
Deck rating is responsible for cleaning, sweeping, chipping of rust,
polishing, etc. They help in loading and unloading of cargo and in
port they assist in the mooring of the ship.
Engine room ratings are responsible for the day to day cleanliness of
the engine room and for routine oiling, greasing, and servicing of
machinery. as they experience they help officer monitor and ensure the
safe running of main plant and ancillary equipment.
Catering rating - they usually clean accommodation areas and pulic
rooms, helps in preparation of foods, clean galleys and cooking
utensils, and to maintain fridges, freezers. They also serve meals to
officers and crew and help in loading and storing of consumable
stores.
Personality
The jobs call for genuine interest that can held the entrant adjust
with ease and confidence. the ability to withstand long streches of
hard work in an emergency like situation on board a vessel and to the
physical strain, needs a person with touch mental and physical self to
sustain through such stress. A person with a strong mental makeup and
tough physical constitution along with a sporting adaptive and
adjustable attitude can find at sea one of adventure and fun.Life at
sea is not a comfortable break from the routine of academics. A
merchant navy entrant must involve in a rigorous course of the on-the-
job learning. they have to pass stipulated examination to get
promotions.