My Science School

My son is doing First Year Junior Science and plans to join merchant navy. Please tell me whether one can joint merchant navy after B.Sc.?  Will it have any bearing on his prospectus? When and how to apply for merchant navy? How long is the training period? Will he be disqualified if he wear glasses?

The Shipping Corporation of India (a public sector undertaking), the Great Eastern Shipping Company, Essar Shipping Company and Chowgule Steamships Ltd are among the biggest shipping companies in India.

A merchant vessel has the following four departments of work: the crew, officers, engineers and catering.

The captain, or the chief-in-command, is responsible for the entire ship. He has to look into the details about the arrival and departure from the port, port papers, immigration, and messages. The safety of the ship is his responsibility. The second in command is the chief officer who has a number of tasks like maintenance, loading and unloading and training of cadets. Next to him is the second officer, who is responsible for navigation equipment, and who plots the course of the ship and the distance from one destination to the other. He is also involved in loading and unloading, and is responsible for hospital and medicines. Next come the third officers, who take care of safety equipment, loading and discharging, as per the orders of the chief officer. The entry point is that of cadets.

The crew has chief officer, the bosun, the able seaman (AS) and ordinary seaman (OS). An OS has to learn navigation, as well as look after the maintenance of the ship. Some shipping companies have a lower rung, that is first and second seaman below the OS. Next comes the Able Seaman (AS) who is involved in the control of steering and maintenance of the ship. Higher up on the ladder is the Bosun, to whom OS and AS report. He is turn gets his orders from the chief officer. The crew also has a motorman, who is in charge of engine room maintenance and looks out for oil leakage, machinery, error, etc.

There’s the department of engineers, consisting of the chief engineer and fourth engineer, who are there to check and maintain all the machinery. There are also staffers like stewards to take care of the cooking for the entire ship and cleaning the rooms and the work area.

While roles are clearly defined in the various departments, there is continuous activity on the vessel, and one shift takes over the baton from the earlier shift. There’s activity at 12.00 p.m. and there’ activity at 4.00 a.m. So the ship never sleeps.

Salaries are very lucrative in the merchant navy. For example, an ordinary seaman earns Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per month, a fourth engineer draws Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month, a chief officer earns about 1.25 lakh, and the captain, Rs 2 lakh to 3 lakh. But then, it’s a hard life too. There may be occasions when the sea gets too dangerous. Those are the moments when you would have to remain calm and think well, despite any duress. A crisis situation would also require the navigators to handle the steering manually. The engineers would have to fix any major systems’ failure so that the vessel can at least reach the nearest port.

TS Chanakya, Navi Mumbai, MERI, Kolkata and LBS College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research are the leading institutes in India for a comprehensive range of courses for merchant navy personnel. Most of these courses are open to candidates who have done their 10+2 and the duration is of three years for some courses, and four years for others. Candidates should be physically fit for the arduous life of the sea and candidates of nautical science should also have a normal vision. Candidates of marine engineering are, however, allowed glasses of plus or minus 2.5.

Since your son has already joined a B.Sc. course and cannot join a nautical science course now, here’s a piece of information that will cheer him up. The Shipping Corporation of India recruits Nautical Officer Cadets, for which science graduates with physics and mathematics are also considered. They have to undergo a three-stage training: a pre-sea training of four months, an on-board training of about two years, and then a post-sea education course. This training is expensive, however. The pre-sea training costs about Rs 85,000 the post-sea education, about Rs 1.2 lakh.

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I am student of science in class XII and want to know about merchant navy in detail : the entrance process, training programmes, fees and other expenses, salary and perks, functional set up of merchant navy, job profiles, etc.

The Shipping Corporation of India (a public sector undertaking), the Great Eastern Shipping Company, Essar Shipping Company and Chowgule Steamships Ltd are among the biggest shipping companies in India.

A merchant vessel has the following four departments of work: the crew, officers, engineers and catering.

The captain, or the chief-in-command, is responsible for the entire ship. He has to look into the details about the arrival and departure from the port, port papers, immigration, and messages. The safety of the ship is his responsibility. The second in command is the chief officer who has a number of tasks like maintenance, loading and unloading and training of cadets. Next to him is the second officer, who is responsible for navigation equipment, and who plots the course of the ship and the distance from one destination to the other. He is also involved in loading and unloading, and is responsible for hospital and medicines. Next come the third officers, who take care of safety equipment, loading and discharging, as per the orders of the chief officer. The entry point is that of cadets.

The crew has chief officer, the bosun, the able seaman (AS) and ordinary seaman (OS). An OS has to learn navigation, as well as look after the maintenance of the ship. Some shipping companies have a lower rung, that is first and second seaman below the OS. Next comes the Able Seaman (AS) who is involved in the control of steering and maintenance of the ship. Higher up on the ladder is the Bosun, to whom OS and AS report. He is turn gets his orders from the chief officer. The crew also has a motorman, who is in charge of engine room maintenance and looks out for oil leakage, machinery, error, etc.

There’s the department of engineers, consisting of the chief engineer and fourth engineer, who are there to check and maintain all the machinery. There are also staffers like stewards to take care of the cooking for the entire ship and cleaning the rooms and the work area.

While roles are clearly defined in the various departments, there is continuous activity on the vessel, and one shift takes over the baton from the earlier shift. There’s activity at 12.00 p.m. and there’ activity at 4.00 a.m. So the ship never sleeps.

Salaries are very lucrative in the merchant navy. For example, an ordinary seaman earns Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per month, a fourth engineer draws Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month, a chief officer earns about 1.25 lakh, and the captain, Rs 2 lakh to 3 lakh. But then, it’s a hard life too. There may be occasions when the sea gets too dangerous. Those are the moments when you would have to remain calm and think well, despite any duress. A crisis situation would also require the navigators to handle the steering manually. The engineers would have to fix any major systems’ failure so that the vessel can at least reach the nearest port.

TS Chanakya, Navi Mumbai, MERI, Kolkata and LBS College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research are the leading institutes in India for a comprehensive range of courses for merchant navy personnel. Most of these courses are open to candidates who have done their 10+2 and the duration is of three years for some courses, and four years for others. Candidates should be physically fit for the arduous life of the sea and candidates of nautical science should also have a normal vision. Candidates of marine engineering are, however, allowed glasses of plus or minus 2.5.

Since your son has already joined a B.Sc. course and cannot join a nautical science course now, here’s a piece of information that will cheer him up. The Shipping Corporation of India recruits Nautical Officer Cadets, for which science graduates with physics and mathematics are also considered. They have to undergo a three-stage training: a pre-sea training of four months, an on-board training of about two years, and then a post-sea education course. This training is expensive, however. The pre-sea training costs about Rs 85,000 the post-sea education, about Rs 1.2 lakh.

 

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I have a keen interest in marine engineering. Please mention some reputed government institutes with their complete addresses and their websites, other than IIT, in the field of marine engineering. Do these institutes grant admission on the basis of marks obtained in class XII?

MERI – Kolkata offers a four-year full-time course in marine engineering. The basic eligibility is a pass in 10+2 with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Admission is on the basis of the candidate’s performance in IIT-JEE. Tolani College of Marine Engineering, Pune, also offers a four-year course. Indian Naval Dockyard, Bombay Port Trust Ltd, Patel Engineering, Mumbai, Chidambaram Ship Care, Chennai, and Garden Reach Ship Building, Kolkata, offer different courses on the subject. Graduates in mechanical, electrical, electronic engineering and naval architecture are also in demand in this field.

 

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I am class XII student and have opted for PCM as my subjects. I aspire to join the civil services. I also want to pursue an engineering degree in electronics, mechanical or aeronautical. But as per the criteria, only mechanical, electrical and civil engineers are allowed to sit for the examination. I have also heard that engineers and doctors are not preferred as civil servants and rejected in the interview. Please advice me what course, other than engineering, should I opt for, so that I can attempt for the civil services, and as a fallback have some good qualifications.

Well, the answer lies in your question. If you are keen to do mechanical engineering, and if civil services do take into account mechanical engineering, go for it. And it’s not true that doctors and engineers are turned down at the interview stage. This year’s civil services topper is IIT alumnus Ankur Garg, who has done electrical engineering. In fact, the increasing number of engineers and doctors joining the civil services has led to a debate on the issue. Though we won’t advise you to drop engineering, keeping in mind the civil services, the second choice could be an honours degree from a reputed university in a science subject like physics or mathematics, or else economics. But then, you have to take the decision based on your interest.

 

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The Indian Navy recruits men and women in the age group of 19 ½ to 25 years for its logistics cadre. Those keen to join the cadre should have done BA (economics) II Div, B.Com IInd Div or graduation in any subject with a degree/diploma in materials/financial management. The candidates are recruited through direct entry scheme, announcement of which is made in the Employment News, as also regional newspapers, twice a year, depending on the vacancies.

 

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I have just completed my graduation and hope to join my father’s business, alongside doing a masters’ course by correspondence. However, there is one thing about myself that totally shatters my confidence. I am troubled by my ugliness. I am hopelessly ugly. I have taken after my father’s family, so I am short and dark, with terrible features. When I look at my friends, I feel very jealous of them. I also feel angry with my parents for having given me such awful features. I fear that I will never get a good life partner because I am so ugly.

In this world, we have both good and not-so-good looking individuals and not much can be done to alter their basic appearance. Yet, there are parlours and salons that help you learn how to dress better and look smarter. I am sure that if you attend such a course for a few days you would feel more confident about your appearance. However, inner beauty, confidence and a fine character can make up for your uncomplimentary looks. Instead of thinking of your looks, try to think about your best qualities, character and achievements. Always think positive. If you start liking yourself for what you have, I am sure many of your difficulties will disappear and you will be able to achieve your goals.

 

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I am becoming very foul mouthed. Though I don’t intend to hurt people, I do end up annoying them. My friends have started avoiding me. I even shocked my mother the other day by abusing her. How do I control my habit?

Control is in your hands. Remember it is your mind and you alone are responsible for your actions. If you decide not to abuse anyone, you will not. Whenever you get the urge to abuse, count backwards from 10 to 1 and then react to the situation. This small interval when you count from 10 to 1 will give you ample time to re-word your response and reaction.

Remember the time when you never used to be foul mouthed. That means you can still continue to talk to people without being abusive.

 

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Whenever I go to a party with friends, I come home and cook up a story. But my parents don’t believe a word of it. Now, my brother tells the same tales, they believe him. This infuriates me. Why do they believe the tales of one son and not the other? I feel very small when they treat me like this.

Remember you will gain respect and regard when you speak the truth with others whether they are your parents, friends or relatives. Truth always makes others feel good about you. Going for parties is not wrong but going for them without your parents’ consent and later lying to them not just makes you feel bad but also makes you think they are not on your side or appreciating you. With regard to your parents, you can always directly ask them why they believe your brother and not you. Their reply will enlighten you regarding their behavior.

 

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I get bullied very easily. Nowadays, I have stopped talking to a good friend of mine because of pressure from another friend. I am feeling very bad about cutting off from this good friend. But if I start talking to her, my other friend will be very upset. How do I keep both the friends happy at the same time? I do not want to antagonize either of the two.

You are highly susceptible and don’t have confidence in your own decisions. This tendency to cling to someone to get his or her favor is an indication of lack of confidence. In this case that you have cried, all you have to do is start talking with your friend even if the first friend gets a little disappointed. That is, if you want to talk to her, do so. When you do things you want and what you think is right, others will begin to respect you for the same. But if you succumb to pressure from others to do things their way you will never be happy within. You can keep both your friends happy by beginning to talk with your friend and bringing her over to the other friend also. All three of you, I am sure, have lots in common, which you can share.

 

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I am a student of class IX. My problem is shyness. I am not able to give an answer even if I know it. I also suffer from stage fright. I am not bold and courageous. My father insists that I participate in competitions. I feel that I will not be able to speak on the stage. Please help me. I feel miserable that I will not succeed in life if I do not overcome my shyness.

Since you are aware that you are shy and have stage fright, you should also understand that this shyness would disappear if you have confidence in yourself. The fear that may fail when you are on the stage makes you afraid of the stage. Similarly the fear that you may not come up to others’ expectations and the anxiety that others would think negatively of you makes you shy. This can be overcome if you start thinking positively and take up such tasks, which you can complete successfully. If someone gives you work, complete it as well as you can and take pride in what you have achieved. Even complex tasks can be successfully accomplished if you spend time thinking how best you can complete it. Think of the different ways in which you can solve the problem and choose the best out of them. This way you will gain confidence in yourself and the fear of having to bear criticism will also disappear. You can thus overcome your shyness. In addition you can do breathing exercises for about three or four minutes just before you take up a task or just before going on stage for some programme.

 

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I think the most promising area is e-commerce. All those courses that require heavy input of information technology will gain ground. Commerce is done more and more with the use of IT. Basics may remain the same but there will be a lot of infusion of the technological aspects.

Let me add here that commerce by itself is not a very distinct discipline. It’s an amalgam of several things. In fact it’s multi-disciplinary. Commerce has become popular precisely because it has multi-disciplinary content. In commerce we teach English, we teach political science, history and economics.

 

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This saying is surely based on the scientific facts. In the morning our basal metabolism is at its peak and so are our requirements. As the day progresses the requirements decline and by the night our requirements reach the lowest ebb with decrease in the physical activities. Things eaten in abundance at this fag end of the day won’t be utilised fully, leading to a sensation of bloating of tummy. Or else it would get deposited as fat, leading to obesity. Therefore never leave for school/college without having breakfast.

 

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It only helps in the initial stages of preparation since most of the good books are published in English. But if the person has the capacity of converting it into his own language then it’s not a problem. But I have taught a lot of students from states like Bihar, and within three to four months they are tuned to English. They should have conviction in their own intellectual strength. English is a barrier that can be easily overcome.

 

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It’s a very popular and glamorous notion that one should concentrate on physics and maths, but you will be surprised to know that the paper which makes a student pass or fail JEE is chemistry. The logic behind this is very simple. In chemistry there is a limit beyond which you cannot complicate the problem. But in maths and physics there is no limit. Students are known to score 70-80 per cent in chemistry. But getting more than 40-50 per cent in maths and physics is very difficult. I have never known a student who has passed the JEE exam by doing badly in chemistry. Similarly, I have not known many students who have not cleared JEE by doing very well in chemistry.

 

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Marks are not a criterion. Students who got 99 in school may also not get through. But an honest student can surely put some questions to himself: Am I the type who tries to locate whether I have seen this type of question or not. Does it fit into the familiar case or not. If there is some unfamiliarity, does that make me uncomfortable. Am I always looking for formats? If so, you will also find it difficult. This category of students will find it very difficult. It’s a matter of how much you love the subjects.

 

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