The Merchant Navy is often perceived as a glamorous career filled with adventure, global travel, and prestige. Many believe that seafarers enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, endless shore leaves, and stress-free work. However, reality tells a different story.

While the Merchant Navy does offer unique experiences and rewarding challenges, it is also surrounded by numerous misconceptions. If you are considering a career at sea or planning to enroll in a Merchant Navy institute, it is crucial to separate fact from fiction. Let’s debunk the most common myths about the Merchant Navy.

Myth 1: The Merchant Navy is All About Traveling the World

Many assume that working in the Merchant Navy is like a paid vacation, with opportunities to explore different countries and cultures. In reality, life at sea is primarily about work. Seafarers spend most of their time engaged in demanding tasks to ensure the ship’s efficient operation.

Port stays are usually brief, lasting only a few hours to a couple of days, during which seafarers are occupied with cargo operations, inspections, and maintenance. In many cases, they don’t even get the chance to step off the ship.

Yes, seafarers travel the world, but their experiences are often limited to views from the port rather than immersive cultural exploration.

Myth 2: A Job in the Merchant Navy is Guaranteed After Training

Enrolling in a Merchant Navy course does not automatically secure a job onboard a ship. The industry is highly competitive, and landing a position, especially for freshers, can be challenging.

While some reputed institutes provide placement assistance, many graduates struggle to find employment after training. Job opportunities depend on various factors such as industry demand, hiring policies, and individual qualifications. Some aspirants wait months before securing their first contract and may even need to invest in additional certifications to improve their chances.

Myth 3: The Work is Physically Easy

There is a misconception that working onboard a ship involves standing on deck and watching the ocean. In reality, the job is physically demanding and often exhausting.

Engineers work in extreme heat inside the engine room, deck officers handle heavy cargo operations, and crew members must be prepared for emergencies like fires, machinery failures, and storms. The job requires physical stamina, endurance, and the ability to work long hours under tough conditions.

Myth 4: The Merchant Navy Provides Lifelong Job Security

Unlike government jobs that offer stability, the Merchant Navy operates on a contractual basis. Seafarers are typically employed for a fixed duration, after which they must secure their next contract.

Gaps between contracts can be unpredictable, leading to financial uncertainty. Additionally, industry fluctuations, automation, and global economic changes can impact job availability. To maintain employability, seafarers must constantly upskill, network, and adapt to industry demands.

Myth 5: Piracy is No Longer a Threat

Many believe that piracy is a thing of the past, but it remains a serious concern in some regions, particularly near the coast of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Although security measures have improved, piracy incidents still occur, and some seafarers have been taken hostage for ransom. Shipping companies implement strict safety protocols, such as armed guards and high-security transit routes, but risks persist in high-risk zones.

Myth 6: I Will Get Salary Even When I’m On Leave

Not all companies provide such facilities. As said in the first point, approximately 70% of the companies opt for fixed contract periods. This means that once you are OFF the contract, you will not be getting any salary. The rest 30% of the shipping companies, who do provide such facilities, will pay you the wages as per round-the-year contract terms, i.e., if the contract says 4 months ON and 2 months OFF, you will get only 2 months to enjoy the paid leave. In such cases, the companies have full command of your holiday period.

Fact: You don’t get any salary once you are on leave after completing your contract. If you are on round-the-year wages, you will get a salary during leave only for a specific period.

Myth 7: I Am Sponsored, I Do Not Pay My Fees

This is one of the most misused terms. Actually, the term “sponsored” is very differently used in the shipping industry. “Sponsored” does not always mean that the full tuition fees of a course are taken care of by the college. Instead, most mean that they will sponsor a place for you on a ship to complete your initial training onboard ships, which makes you eligible to sit for exams and get a promotion. Before you take up such an opportunity, please ensure that you read the terms and conditions of the company/institute properly.

Myth 8: I Can Take My Family on Board Ships Once I Become An Officer

No and Yes – No, you cannot take your entire family on a ship immediately after you join as an officer. You can only take your immediate family onboard and that too only after sailing at a management rank with a shipping company. Though a few companies allow operational-level officers to bring their immediate family onboard once they complete a good amount of time with them, such privileges are diminishing as every company today is looking for cost-cutting.

Fact: You can only take immediate family once you are at a management position or have sailed for a comfortable period of time with a particular company at an operational level.

Myth 9: I Wear Spectacles, I Cannot Join

You can join the merchant navy with specs provided you meet the following requirement: 6/6 vision in both eyes (with visual aids); no color blindness for Nautical Officers, and for Engineering Officers, the use of corrective lenses is permitted but the maximum permissible limits at entry are 6/12 in each eye or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye, for Distant Unaided Vision. It will be an individual’s decision to do whatever is required to meet the requirements and as long as one meets the above requirement, he/she will be eligible for joining the Merchant Navy. (The rules may vary across different countries.)

Color blindness of any type is not eligible for the merchant navy.

Fact: You can join the merchant navy even if you wear specs. (T & C Applied)

Myth 10: Plenty of Shore Jobs Are Available, I Can Shift to Land Anytime

Most of the shore opportunities in shipping companies will require managerial experience of at least a 2nd engineer/chief officer rank. To become one of these, an average person will take at least 7-10 years. There are not many opportunities on shore for seafarers who want to make a shift early in their careers. If you are doing marine engineering or nautical science to get a job on shore, it’s not a very good idea.

Also Read : 10 Life Lessons the World Can Learn from Seafarers

Conclusion

The Merchant Navy is a dynamic and rewarding career, but it comes with its own set of challenges. It requires dedication, resilience, and a clear understanding of the realities involved.

It is important to join the Merchant Navy industry with in-depth knowledge of the industry. Never believe lies and always know what you are signing for. Rife Consultancy is a Surat-based Merchant Navy institute that helps guide young professionals find the correct career path without misleading or false promises because misguidance results in later quitting of seafarers.