How to become a seafarer in India after school

Officer: maritime academy or college

• Each approved route to deck officer needs company sponsorship, IMU-CET where applicable and medical fitness certified by a DGS-approved doctor.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS): 1 year of pre-sea training followed by 18 months at sea as a deck cadet.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• DNS entry: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (60% aggregate), 50% in English in Class 10 or 12, age 17 to 21, IMU-CET and company sponsorship.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• B.Sc. Nautical Science: 3 years at an IMU-affiliated institute followed by 12 months at sea.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• B.Sc. Nautical Science entry: Class 12 PCM with 60% aggregate, 50% in English, age 17 to 25, IMU-CET, eyesight 6/6 unaided and no colour blindness.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• Engineer officers can start with a 4-year BE/B.Tech in Marine Engineering; admission is through the Common Entrance Test.
  Source: DGS Training Circular No. 12 of 2020: Minimum eligibility criteria for admissions in pre-sea maritime courses
• Marine engineering degree entry requires a Class 12 pass with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English as separate subjects.
  Source: DGS Training Circular No. 12 of 2020: Minimum eligibility criteria for admissions in pre-sea maritime courses
• Part-time, distance or correspondence courses are not accepted for admission to pre-sea maritime courses.
  Source: DGS Training Circular No. 12 of 2020: Minimum eligibility criteria for admissions in pre-sea maritime courses

Rating: rating course

• General Purpose (GP) Rating is a 6-month pre-sea course; ratings can later upgrade through Able Seafarer certificates and further sea time.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• GP Rating entry: Class 10 or 12 pass with at least 40%, and at least 40% in English.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• The upper age limit for DG-approved GP Rating courses is 28 years; it was raised from 25.
  Source: DGS Order 12 of 2026: Revision of eligibility criteria for issue of CDC
• The Certificate Course in Maritime Catering (CCMC) is a six-month course for catering ratings, from trainee cook to steward.
  Source: DGMA Order No. 24 of 2026: Revision of rates for GP Ratings and CCMC courses exit examinations
• A GP Rating can work in either the deck or the engine department.
  Source: DGMA Order No. 24 of 2026: Revision of rates for GP Ratings and CCMC courses exit examinations

Exams and certification

• The Common Entrance Test (CET) for pre-sea courses is conducted by the Indian Maritime University (IMU) on behalf of the Directorate.
  Source: DGS Training Circular No. 12 of 2020: Minimum eligibility criteria for admissions in pre-sea maritime courses
• GP Rating and CCMC courses end with the All India Exit Examination.
  Source: DGMA Order No. 24 of 2026: Revision of rates for GP Ratings and CCMC courses exit examinations
• A course exit exam allows a maximum of 3 attempts; after 3 failures the course must be repeated.
  Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
• Certificate of Competency examinations are held by the Directorate at the Mercantile Marine Department centres in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer

Documents in order

1. Book your course at a DG-approved institute; booking comes before the INDoS application.
   Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
2. Apply for INDoS through the institute with your original Class 10 mark sheet, passport and photo.
   Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
3. Pass a medical by a DG-approved doctor; STCW courses require an INDoS number and valid DG-approved medicals.
   Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
4. Complete the pre-sea course and the basic STCW courses, then apply for the CDC online.
   Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
5. Holders of a DG-approved pre-sea training certificate who also completed the five basic STCW courses are eligible for a CDC.
   Source: DGS Order 12 of 2026: Revision of eligibility criteria for issue of CDC

Cadet training at sea

• Deck cadets complete 12 to 18 months of structured shipboard training with a Training Record Book (TRB).
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• The Second Mate (Foreign Going) certificate requires 18 months of structured cadet sea time plus the mandatory STCW courses.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer
• Under STCW II/1, an officer of the navigational watch must be at least 18 and complete at least 12 months of approved seagoing service in a training programme.
  Source: IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (2010): Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention
• Under STCW III/1, an engineer officer of the watch needs at least 12 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service.
  Source: IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (2010): Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention
• Cadets need sponsorship by a shipping company to get shipboard training places.
  Source: DGMA (Nautical Wing): Career in Merchant Navy as a Nautical Officer

Approved training institutions

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