Shipping is an indispensable option in the world of trade and commerce, as it is economically convenient. There are close to 55,000 ships that ply the vast oceans. Have you ever wondered – who operates these humungous ships and how do they manage to keep it afloat to carry out hassle free trade? Well, 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 intent on breaking through the mundane vigour 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 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 cargo on board, engineers in the engine room are responsible for maintaining the machineries that allows the ship to take on the voyage safely.

The engineers who work on ship have a huge responsibility, and need shrewd skills of analysing, problem solving and decision making. Apart from the technical know-how, they also need to possess leadership skills and astounding mental strength and finesse.

Being a Marine engineer, the officer needs to work with different kind of machinery. Diesel engine & various types of hydraulics, pumps & systems, control engineering, digital engineering, air conditioning etc are examples of just a few of the many machineries they need to be familiar with.

MANET’s Marine Engineering courses aim to train the best marine engineering graduates for the industry. MANET provides a broad-based knowledge in theory, the students are exposed to marine equipment with visit to ships and repair yards. The educational objectives of MANET’s Bachelor Programs are to transform graduates who understand the essential requirements of a marine engineer working on board ship. This will enable students to apply their theoretical knowledge to resolve challenges during their career.

The institute trains cadets to communicate their ideas and positions clearly and concisely. As a result, we create the ability to engage in lifelong learning, necessary for continuing high- performance in whatever career path our students choose.

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 established in 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 to take charge of navigation and management of cargo on 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 or marine engineer and successful completion of competency exams, one goes on to dawn the four stripes on his/her shoulders, symbolizing pen-ultimate responsibility that of a Captain/ Chief Engineer 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 attribute 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.

The MANET cadets 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.

At helm of the Marine Engineering Department is C/E Sandip Kulkarni; and Capt Ajay Yadav heads the department of Nautical Science of MANET.

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.

Even the Government of India has launched many programs and has 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 Chief Engineer or 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.

Marex Media