Captain Jyotindra Prakash, partner of Rife Consultancy, a leading Merchant Navy Institute in Surat, shared his take on why students rush towards Merchant Navy jobs like seagulls after a snack. Students think that a Merchant Navy Career is all about honour, prestige, high-paying salary and World travel. However, they often overlook the need to step out of their comfort zones and adapt to the demanding life aboard a ship.

Drawing on his insights, we have listed 10 reasons why a career in the Merchant Navy is not for everyone.

Love Your Comfort Zone? Too Bad.

Do you love Netflix binges, your cosy couch, your predictable routine, and your weekend plans? Well, if you’re too attached to these things, life at sea is probably going to shake you up. Adaptability isn’t just a skill in the sea, it’s survival.

Your Bed Comes with a Built-in Earthquake

Oh, what a luxury it is to sleep in our beds. Do you enjoy sleeping on the solid ground on your cosy bed? Say goodbye to that luxury because your bed at sea will rock, and roll and occasionally throw you off. Consider this a courtesy of the ever-moving ocean.

No Food Delivery – Only Ocean Breeze.

Don’t like your meal – just Swiggy it! If that’s your motto, tough luck! Nobody delivers take-out at sea. Here, you have to eat what the chef made and the menu depends largely on how long it’s been since the port visit.

No Traffic, Just Hurricanes.

A commute without the traffic. A dream right? No honking cars, no traffic jams, no road rage – sounds great, right? But do trade that for the storms that turn your vessel into a theme park ride. No stop light, no breaks, just you and the waves.

Wi-Fi So Slow, Pigeons Might Be Faster.

Do you love to connect with your family or are you always updated on the latest shows?  No video calls, no Netflix and chill, no Google. They have got Wifi so slow that a pigeon may deliver your letter faster than sending an email.

Forget Tinder, Meet Captain Seagull.

Not a fan of long-distance relationships? Too bad! Relationships and companionships take on a whole new meaning when you are at Sea for months. But, don’t worry! You get Seagulls and flying fish to keep your romance afresh.

The Ocean Has Mood Swings.

You can never be certain about the nature of the sea. It has got more mood swings than your ex. One minute is beautiful, serene, and relaxing and just in the next minute, it turns into a raging beast. It has mood swings so vivid, your ex gets a complex from it.

Sleep is a Luxury, Not a Right.

Love to have a sound sleep and a pre-set schedule? Then you may be up for the ride. No set time zones, no pre-set work shifts, no eight-hour beauty sleep. You are up when either duty calls or the storm does. Yes, sleep deprivation is a part of employment contract.

Weather Forecast: Unpredictable Chaos.

‘A sunny day with shiny waves’ can quickly turn into a ‘hold on to your life my dear’ moment without any warning. An ocean doesn’t care about the weather forecast and neither does your ship when caught in a storm.

You Can’t Just “Quit.”

No quitting when things get tough. When we say you’re in it for the long haul, we mean it. You don’t have your replacement on the ship so, no quitting, no sick leaves, no not in the mood to work today.

This long list of big no-nos makes us wonder just how resilient these Merchant Navy officers are. Do you think you have a knack for it? It takes a soul made of steel to build a career in the Merchant Navy. It’s not for the weak, bro. You have got to be strong.