If you’ve ever wondered how to join Merchant Navy in Pakistan, it’s a challenging yet rewarding career path. Professionals in this field spend many days at sea, but during that time they also get countless opportunities to visit new countries.
Educational and training institution
There is a maritime education and training institution in Pakistan, located in Karachi. This renowned institution is known as the “Pakistan Marine Academy”.
Eligibility criteria
Admissions to the Marine Academy in Pakistan take place in the month of August/September every year, and applications are invited from candidates through advertisements in newspapers.
The basic educational qualification for admission to the Marine Academy is a minimum of second division success in the Pre-Engineering, Recent criteria indicate minimum 55% marks (or equivalent) in F.Sc Pre-Engineering or A-Levels with PCM subjects. .
The candidate must be a Pakistani citizen and should not be more than 20 years of age at the time of admission with one-year relaxation for certain regions up to 21. In the initial stage, the selected candidates undergo a medical examination. The final selection of candidates is based on merit only.
The mental and physical fitness of the candidate is given great importance for admission to the academy.
Standard of mental and physical fitness
Minimum weight 110 lbs. (Candidates underweight may be exempted if the doctor is satisfied with their physical fitness).
Minimum height 5 feet 4 inches. Chest width 30 inches (normal) 32 inches (expanded)
Good hearing, no ear disease, no stomach disease, fluent speech, healthy teeth. if any tooth is infected with worms, it should be cleaned and filled regularly.
Curriculum details
Candidates are trained for two years at the Marine Academy. This two-year period is divided into four semesters. There are two-month vacations in the months of June and July every year and 15 days in December/January. Candidates who successfully complete the training are awarded a B.Sc. (Maritime Studies) degree by the University of Karachi.
The academy offers training in two departments; one is nautical and the other is engineering. The nautical department is directly related to shipping, while the engineering department provides training related to ship engines, machines, and equipment.
The curriculum for Deck Cadets consists of two parts: one academic and the other technical.
The academic subjects are: Physics, Mathematics, English, Islamic Studies/Ethics, Pakistan Studies, and Civics and Social Studies.
Technical subjects include the following topics: navigation, marine operations, maritime transport, meteorology, engineering sciences for navigation, signaling, and emergency medical aid.
Candidates in the engineering field are taught marine engineering subjects in addition to academic subjects.
Career opportunities
Once they complete two years of training at the Pakistan Marine Academy, young people have to complete practical training on board a ship or in an engineering workshop.
Nautical (Deck) Branch
Nautical (Deck) certificated youth are given the opportunity to train on board ships as Deck Cadets and as such they have to complete two years of training (cadets who are not certified by the Pakistan Marine Academy, their training period is 42 months).
In the last six months of training, they are required to perform watchkeeping duties under the supervision of a certified officer.
When this phase ends, Deck Cadets are eligible to appear for the Certificate of Competency Class Four examination. Upon passing, they are promoted to the rank of Third Officer and after six months of experience, they can appear for the Third Officer examination.
Once they qualify, they move up to Second Officer rank. After 18 months of watchkeeping experience as Second Officer, now the candidates are eligible to appear for the Second Level Examination and after passing this examination, they can be promoted to the rank of Chief Officer.
Following 18 months of watchkeeping and the Third Level Qualification, the candidates can appear for the First Level Qualification Examination, which is for the post of Captain of the ship.
Engineering Branch
Following a two-year degree in engineering from the Marine Academy, the graduates must complete three years of practical training in a recognized marine engineering workshop as a marine engineer apprentice. (The training period for non-academy graduates is four years.)
Upon completing this training, the candidates are eligible to appear for the Certificate of Competence, they are appointed as a fifth engineer or junior engineer on board a ship.
Succeeding a specified period of experience and qualification, the candidate can appear for the fourth and third level competency examinations respectively.
After 20 to 24 months of experience in watchkeeping in the engine room of a foreign sailing ship, the candidate is eligible to appear for the Part “B” examination of the Second-Class Qualification.
With 18 to 21 months of experience in watchkeeping in the engine room, the candidates can appear for the First-Class Examination and after passing this examination, he can be appointed as Chief Engineer.
