Merchant Navy after graduation

A B.Sc. with Physics still opens the deck officer route — DNS, B.Sc. Nautical Science or the six-month pre-sea course for graduates — if you are no older than 25 when the course starts. Graduates in B.Com, B.A. or other subjects without Physics can join as GP ratings, ship's cooks or cruise hotel staff, but not as officer cadets.

Open with: B.Sc. with Physics

Deck officer

• Deck officer via a B.Sc. / B.S. Nautical Science degree · age limit 25
  Requires: 10+2 with PCM, at least 60% average in PCM; or B.Sc. with Physics, at least 50% in final year; or B.E. / B.Tech degree, at least 50% in final year.
  Fees: ₹4.65 lakh – ₹9.25 lakh — B.Sc. Nautical Science fees
• Deck officer via the one-year Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) · age limit 25
  Requires: 10+2 with PCM, at least 60% average; or B.Sc. with Physics, at least 55% aggregate; or B.E. / B.Tech degree (any branch).
  Fees: ₹2.5 lakh – ₹7 lakh — Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) fees
• Deck officer via the six-month pre-sea course for graduates · age limit 25
  Requires: Degree in Science or Fisheries (NS), at least 50% in final year; or Engineering degree, at least 50% in final year.

Deck rating (GP Rating)

• Deck rating (R-NW) via the pre-sea GP rating course · age limit 28
  Requires: 10th with English, Mathematics and Science, at least 40% aggregate.
  Fees: ₹2.2 lakh – ₹4.86 lakh — GP Rating (General Purpose Rating) course fees

Engine rating (GP Rating)

• Engine rating (REW) via the pre-sea rating course · age limit 28
  Requires: 10th with English, Mathematics and Science, at least 40% aggregate.
  Fees: ₹2.2 lakh – ₹4.86 lakh — GP Rating (General Purpose Rating) course fees

Ship's cook

• Ship's cook
  Requires: 12th Standard, any stream, at least 40%, with at least 40% in English in 10th or 12th; or 10+2 with PCM, with at least 40% in English in 10th or 12th.

Possible, with a further condition

• Electro-Technical Rating (ETR)
  Eligibility depends on details we cannot verify here: One of three streams: sea service with training; approved pre-sea or special training plus a short sea period; or technical qualifications meeting Table A-III/7.
• Becoming a seafarer: the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) — rules from 1 August 2026
  Class 10 is only the base: the CDC also needs one of the DGS Order 12 of 2026 categories (approved pre-sea training, an Agniveer discharge certificate, a hospitality qualification with OCCP, a cook CoC, or another CoC).
• Hotel and service staff on passenger (cruise) ships
  Eligibility depends on details we cannot verify here: Via a DG-approved cruise recruitment company (CDC restricted to cruise and passenger ships).

Open with: Any other degree (B.Com, B.A., other)

Deck rating (GP Rating)

• Deck rating (R-NW) via the pre-sea GP rating course · age limit 28
  Requires: 10th with English, Mathematics and Science, at least 40% aggregate.
  Fees: ₹2.2 lakh – ₹4.86 lakh — GP Rating (General Purpose Rating) course fees

Engine rating (GP Rating)

• Engine rating (REW) via the pre-sea rating course · age limit 28
  Requires: 10th with English, Mathematics and Science, at least 40% aggregate.
  Fees: ₹2.2 lakh – ₹4.86 lakh — GP Rating (General Purpose Rating) course fees

Ship's cook

• Ship's cook
  Requires: 12th Standard, any stream, at least 40%, with at least 40% in English in 10th or 12th; or 10+2 with PCM, with at least 40% in English in 10th or 12th.

Possible, with a further condition

• Electro-Technical Rating (ETR)
  Eligibility depends on details we cannot verify here: One of three streams: sea service with training; approved pre-sea or special training plus a short sea period; or technical qualifications meeting Table A-III/7.
• Becoming a seafarer: the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) — rules from 1 August 2026
  Class 10 is only the base: the CDC also needs one of the DGS Order 12 of 2026 categories (approved pre-sea training, an Agniveer discharge certificate, a hospitality qualification with OCCP, a cook CoC, or another CoC).
• Hotel and service staff on passenger (cruise) ships
  Eligibility depends on details we cannot verify here: Via a DG-approved cruise recruitment company (CDC restricted to cruise and passenger ships).

Routes and requirements from the DGMA (formerly DG Shipping) training rules, as used by the Marine One Route Finder. Every route also needs a pre-sea medical by a DGMA-approved examiner.