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Marine Engineer-How to Become a Marine Engineer in the Merchant Navy
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Written by Mumtaj Khan
Feb 23, 2026

Marine Engineer-How to Become a Marine Engineer in the Merchant Navy

A person working at sea in charge of machines holds full duty for how the ship runs technically. While others might handle navigation, this specialist picks what kind of power units go onboard - options like diesel motors, steam-driven wheels, or gas burners. Design work spreads across many parts: moving fluids through pipes, wiring up electricity, linking sensors and controls, shaping metal into function. Onboard, they lead a group that includes skilled fixers and builders, guiding daily efforts below deck. Running the heart of the ship - the engine space - involves building it right, keeping it going, fixing issues before they grow. Down below, it's their job to handle everything machine-related on board. Actually, they run the entire engine team while keeping equipment safe and up to code.
Because the world’s markets now connect more closely, shipping goods by sea matters much more than before. Ships handle close to eighty percent of international cargo movement worldwide - this part stands clear. So demand for marine engineers in commercial fleets has grown sharply over time. Choosing this path means joining a job many young people have long found deeply appealing. The work stays popular, drawing interest steadily through decades.
A handful of hopefuls aim for Marine Engineering roles, yet selection favors only those truly capable. Shipboard positions demand more than ambition. Training includes standard classes plus specialized maritime instruction. These come from well-known schools focused on ocean-going careers. Few make the cut despite heavy competition.

Who Can Become a Marine Engineer


1. Educational Qualification
Starting off, you need to have finished twelve years of school. Finishing that level matters most if your focus was on science topics. For entry into marine engineering or nautical studies, physics counts a lot. Chemistry also plays a strong role in meeting standards. Math scores must show solid understanding. High grades boost chances significantly. Some programs accept similar qualifications too.Four years make up these programs. A different path shows up through Chennai School of Ship Management - its three-year course shapes future Marine Engineers using an approach called ATS.

2. Age
One year before the test, they need to be at least sixteen. Come July first, seventeen must already be their count. Age matters only if it hits that mark by midyear. Anyone younger than that turns ineligible straight away. Seventeen years old is what counts when the clock strikes exam season. Older workers in some government jobs get extra time on their side. People serving in defense roles can stay longer too.

3.Physical Standard
Fifteen centimeters mark the shortest acceptable height, tied to balanced weight plus a chest that expands at least five centimeters. Proportion matters just as much as measurement. A check for sea duty health rules must be cleared by him, meeting normal standards - vision needs to hit 6/6, without any issue seeing colours.

Steps to Becoming a Marine Engineer

To become a Marine Engineer one has to follow the below-given steps:-

Step 1 : Ahead of anything else, passing the IIT-JEE test is required for anyone aiming at top colleges offering BE programs in Marine Engineering or Nautical Science - some also provide a PG Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, these being the essential credentials needed to enter the field of marine engineering. Begins around February or March - that is when the exam notice shows up, complete with guidelines and what you need to study. Happens later, usually by May, when the actual test takes place.

Step 2 : Once you apply to IIT for taking the JEE, sending another form to the Directorate General of Shipping becomes necessary - this office sits at Jahaz Bhavan on W.H Marg in Mumbai, pincode 400 001. Created under guidance from the International Maritime Organisation, the alternate path known as ATS runs through the Chennai School of Ship Management.

Step 3 : After finishing the required training, graduates find work without delay. Jobs open up across state-run maritime firms just as often as in privately owned ones.

Marine Engineer Responsibilities And Duties

Nowadays, marine engineers do more than they used to - tech advances have changed how they handle ships. Even if tasks feel easier now, their days stay intense and packed with tough demands. Being focused on duty matters most; courage helps too, so does steady effort and truthfulness in every choice made.

Marine Engineer Job Outlook

A fresh graduate with a four-year BE degree begins at sea after clearing the Class IV - Part A exam, set by India's Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Surface Transport. Movement ahead in rank on merchant vessels happens step by step through exams taken over time. Each promotion opens only when tests are passed, one level leading to another along the way
A young engineer officer earns the right to serve at sea after passing the Class IV - Part B test. With that result in hand, duty as a watch keeper opens up. Passing this exam means responsibility follows. Standing a proper watch becomes possible once results are confirmed. Readiness is proven through this step. The role changes when the certificate comes through. Gaining qualification shifts daily tasks. This milestone allows boarding with new duties. Holding the paper makes the difference. Serving in rotation starts now
A skilled Engineer Officer might grow into greater roles when chances appear. Experience builds strength over time, opening paths forward slowly but surely. Opportunities show up quietly for those who stay ready without rushing ahead
Not just the Second Engineer but eventually
The top role belongs to the Chief Engineer, reached after roughly six or seven years.

Marine Engineer Salary

Starting out isn’t always lucrative, yet marine engineering breaks that pattern. This role tops income charts among sea-based careers. Certain unique benefits come bundled - ones you won’t find elsewhere. Fresh hires already land solid earnings right from day one. Earning between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand rupees monthly happens on Indian vessels for juniors. Overseas ships push those numbers higher - seventy-five thousand up to a hundred thousand each month. A top engineer might earn as much as one lakh eighty-five thousand rupees each month. What stands out most? Time off with pay for nearly half a year. Moving across oceans on ships for over six months gives workers non-resident Indian status. Because of that status, their income stays outside India's tax reach. Growth in rank tends to happen quicker here compared to many other fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Marine Engineer is responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing ship engines, machinery, and mechanical systems onboard vessels.
You can become a Marine Engineer by completing 10+2 with PCM, joining a DG-approved marine engineering course, completing sea training, and clearing competency exams.
Candidates must pass 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, meet medical fitness standards, and complete approved marine engineering training.
Popular options include B.Tech Marine Engineering, Diploma in Marine Engineering, and Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) for mechanical graduates.
Trainee Marine Engineer → Fourth Engineer → Third Engineer → Second Engineer → Chief Engineer
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