90% graduates coming out of DGS approved private maritime training Institutes have not found placement in the shipping companies during last two years, to fulfil sea time requirements even at the entry level competency examination, stipulated by DG Shipping.
This is a very sad state, much to the frustration and financial hardship for the trained cadets and their parents. The matter had been taken up with the DG Shipping, through appeals to open fresh avenues by way of acquiring Govt. Owned training ships and at the same time shut down the graduate courses for an immediate future of say next two to three years.
There have been no response from the authorities for the letters sent to their office, and worry remains over the plight of waiting students for placement when more and more cadets would be churned out in the coming years.
All training Institutes having DGS approval and conducting the BE/GME/DME and BSc marine courses/DNS/HND are only very keen to fill their approved seats, while they cannot do much more to ensure the placement of the cadets at the end of these marine courses.
Most of the training Institutes including IMU project to the public as though there is a bright future for students with maritime related skills from India. On the contrary, in the recent two years, subsequent to the fall in US economy and acute global economic recession, the shipping fleet have shrunk in general due to reduction of seaborne trade. The unfortunate aspect is that many Indian managed shipping companies are compelled under severe economic cuts and have resumed to recruit cheaper crew and officers from other countries. As such Indians do not fall favourably for secure ship board employment. There may be some shortages in the middle management levels in the merchant navy ships in the ranks of 2nd/chief officers and 3rd/2nd engineers, and hence you find a lot of ads being displayed. However, it is clearly seen that the new Indian cadets of both streams have no scope for placement in the circumstances, unless the scenario should suddenly reverse bringing an upsurge in demand for merchant ships for trade.
BEFORE OPTING FOR MARITIME EDUCATION COURSES IN ANY INSTITUTE, A STUDENT MUST FIRST TRY AND GET SPONSORSHIP FROM A REPUTED SHIPPING COMPANY IN THE VERY BEGINNING, WITH GOOD PROSPECTS FOR PLACEMENT IN THEIR COMPANIES.
NARROW, SPECIALISATIONS TOWARDS OBTAINING BE DEGREE IN MARINE ENGINEERING, ONE AND TWO YEARS GME/DME COURSES, SIMILAR COURSES IN NAUTICAL SCIENCE HAVE NO SCOPE ATLEAST IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. PLS ENSURE THE TRUTH WHEN MARINE INSTITUTEES CLAIM OF THEIR HIGH RECORD OF PLACEMENTS. DO YOUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT AT THE END OF COMPLETION OF THE MARINE COURSE, YOU WOULD HAVE BEST CHANCES OF BOARDING SHIP FOR FURTHER SHIPBOARD TRAINING PHASE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MMD COMPETENCY EXAMINATIONS.
STUDENTS MUST BEWARE OF AGENCIES AND TOUTS MISLEADING POTENTIAL ASPIRANTS TO TAKE UP MARITIME CAREER.
MERCHANT NAVY IS NO MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR INDIANS TODAY, DUE TO CHANGED CONDITIONS.
This message is intended to serve in the better interests of innocent parents and students, who may feel attracted by white uniform and acclaimed disciplined training in the approved Institutes.
S.Govindarajan
Mob: 93817 43705
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