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Merchant Navy Deck Officer: Eligibility, Salary & Career Path
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Written by Mumtaj Khan
Feb 23, 2026

Merchant Navy Deck Officer: Eligibility, Salary & Career Path

Aboard every merchant vessel, the Deck Officer - often called the Chief Mate - handles how the ship moves across water. Steering happens under their watch, yet duties stretch beyond just direction. Safety of everyone onboard falls into their hands, including those sailing and any people carried. Rules both local and global must be followed, which means laws about ocean travel are always part of daily work. Order among crew members? That too rests with them. Cargo stays secure because they make sure procedures hold firm.

Water routes now move way more cargo between continents than before, thanks to open global markets over recent decades. About eighty percent of worldwide freight travels by sea - more than any other method. Because of that shift, careers in the Merchant Navy have grown much wider in opportunity. Among those roles, becoming a Deck Officer stands out as especially desirable. Young people have looked toward this path with strong interest for generations.
Staying alert matters most when working as a deck officer. At sea, mistakes can’t be fixed fast - so attention never gets switched off. Doing the job well means showing up fully, every single day, with courage and steady effort. Smarts help, but so does sensing changes before they become problems. Teamwork plays a role, yet comfort with being alone counts just as much. Adjusting to shifting routines comes with the territory. Long periods away from home? That part too shapes who fits the role. Patience grows quietly through months without familiar faces nearby.
Starting a job at sea means handling long stretches without feeling unwell from motion. Instead of just studying, future deck officers train through specialized programs while also completing standard coursework at an approved maritime school. Working up front on a vessel requires both types of learning to qualify properly.

Who Can Become a Deck Officer

1. Educational Qualification : Starting off, you need to have finished twelve years of school. A solid score in Science topics matters most. Think physics, chemistry, math - those count heavily. Instead of just passing, aim higher in these areas. What counts is how well you did in them. An equal qualification works too, if it matches the level. The main thing? Strong grades where they matter. Four years make up these programs. A different path exists through Chennai School of Ship Management, where trainees can choose a three-year route known as ATS to reach their goal as a Marine Engineer or Deck Officer.

2. Age : One day after their 16th birthday, summer arrives - by then they need to be stepping into the exam year. Timing matters most when dates line up just right. A full calendar has passed since that last birthday before eligibility begins. On July first, if the clock shows they’ve lived seventeen turns of the earth, entry stands allowed. Not earlier, never later - the cutoff sits firm like a stone in the path. Older workers keep their jobs longer if they serve in specific Indian government roles or work in defense. Some positions just let people stay on past the usual cutoff.

3.Physical Standard : Standing no shorter than 150 centimeters, a person needs matching weight for their frame. Chest size must fit overall build. When breathing deeply, the chest expands by at least five centimeters. One way to start is by checking his vision - must be 6/6, normal color perception required. Medical clearance comes next, based on standard rules for working at sea. Passing the physical stands as a firm requirement, no exceptions if colorblind. Eye health matters just as much as overall fitness here. Rules insist on full visual ability, both sharpness and hue detection. A clean bill of health opens the door only when all markers align.

Steps to Becoming a Deck Officer?

To become a Deck Officer one has to follow the below-given steps:-

Step 1 : Starting off, candidates must clear the IIT-JEE test before earning entry into the B.Sc. Nautical Science program at TS Chanakya in Mumbai . Usually around February or March, they release a notice about the exam - includes guidelines, what's covered, when things happen. Happens every year. Test itself takes place later, come May. Details arrive first, then the event.

Step 2 : Once someone applies to IIT for JEE, they must also send an application directly to the Directorate General of Shipping at Jahaz Bhavan on W.H Marg in Mumbai 400 001. Under guidance from the International Maritime Organisation, the Chennai School of Ship Management built its Alternate Training Scheme.

Step 3 : After finishing the required training, every graduate finds a job in this field. Those ready to start may join either government-run or privately owned shipping firms as Deck Cadets.

How far a Deck Cadet?

  •  It moves up relies on tests run by the Directorate General of Shipping, along with their hands-on performance and individual ability. Passing those exams brings the 'Certificates of Competency' required to step into higher officer ranks. These assessments come from the Ministry of Surface Transport working alongside DGS in Mumbai, shaping who advances and when. Only after clearing them does someone move forward in rank.
  • Join the Merchant Navy directly
  • After finishing 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, Math - some begin straight away as Deck Cadet. Training kicks off only when the hiring firm runs its own starter course.

Deck Officer Responsibilities And Duties

Someone always stands ready to step up beside the captain - that role belongs to the first mate. Right after the captain, this person holds key tasks together across daily operations. Cargo plans fall under their watch along with guiding younger deck cadets through routines. Keeping things running smoothly on deck becomes their duty when problems arise unexpectedly. They make sure rules stick and everyone follows routine without delay or confusion. Next in line comes the second mate who handles messages arriving by email each day. Navigation tools stay accurate because someone checks them regularly - often this officer. Charts update before voyages so errors do not appear mid-journey out at sea. Watches during long ocean crossings include their presence alongside others on shift. Port stays involve oversight of loading actions while logs get updated quietly. Another level down, third mates share smaller roles but still matter just as much. Team structure keeps every task covered even when weather turns harsh suddenly. Safety gear including lifeboats, fire tools, and signals must stay fully functional under the watch of the Third Mate. That role handles signaling tasks while lending support during loading operations. Oversight falls to the Deck Officer since command rests with him across vessel activities. Carrying out assignments through teamwork follows naturally when leadership guides the way. How things run depends heavily on how direction flows from the top down.

Deck Officer Job Outlook

Every now and then, a deck officer finds different paths opening up. Opportunities come their way like shifts in wind - unpredictable yet clear when you’re ready. A few show up straight after training. Others appear much later, tucked between long voyages or port stops. Each one carries its own rhythm, its own set of tides to navigate
Shipping services come from different groups, some run by the state, others operated privately.
Folks from overseas fleets often find solid work opportunities here.

Deck Officer Salary

Right from day one, Deck Officers land among the top earners. What sets them apart? Unique perks missing in nearly every other job. Starting out, the paycheck already stands strong. Fresh Deck Cadets pull in roughly Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 monthly on Indian vessels. Overseas ships push that range closer to Rs.50,000–Rs.60,000 each month. With time, a full Deck Officer might reach as high as Rs.1,50,000 per month. Half a year of paid time off stands out as the top perk here. Traveling abroad on a vessel for over six months brings another benefit - it grants NRI classification, which means earnings escape taxation. What helps even more is how quickly advancement happens compared to other fields. Moving up as a Deck Officer on merchant vessels depends on passing tests now and then, set by India's shipping authority under the Ministry of Surface Transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Deck Officer is responsible for ship navigation, safety, cargo handling, and crew management. Senior Deck Officers can become Ship Captains.
You can become a Deck Officer by joining the Merchant Navy through approved nautical science or deck cadet programs, followed by sea service and competency exams.
10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, Medical fitness as per maritime standards, Completion of approved maritime training
Deck Cadet → Third Officer → Second Officer → Chief Officer → Captain (Master Mariner)
Deck Officers must clear maritime competency exams at each rank, conducted by maritime authorities after completing required sea service.
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