India · Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA)
Every way in
All approved ways to join the Indian Merchant Navy, summarised from the TEAP manual. Each route page shows the requirements in plain language, the full step-by-step path, and a link to the rules behind it.
Deck officer by lateral entry from deck rating
A deck rating who has 10+2 with physics, chemistry and mathematics can become a deck officer: after a long period of sea service as rating or cadet the rating completes the NWKO (NCV) course and examination, the post-sea foundation course in nautical physics, chemistry, mathematics and electronics, and the Second Mate competency and proficiency courses, before the Second Mate (foreign-going) examinations.
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Deck officer via a B.Sc. / B.S. Nautical Science degree
A school-leaver with physics, chemistry and mathematics (or a science or engineering graduate) joins an approved three-year B.Sc. or four-year B.S.
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Deck officer via a Polyvalent (nautical + engineering) degree
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver joins an approved dual/polyvalent degree covering both nautical and engineering disciplines, serves at sea with part of the service in the deck department, and then follows the Second Mate (foreign-going) proficiency courses and examinations; like nautical-degree cadets, polyvalent graduates are exempt from the post-sea Second Mate competency course.
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Deck officer via the one-year Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS)
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver or a science/engineering graduate takes the approved one-year Diploma in Nautical Science (which leads on to a B.Sc. Nautical Science degree), serves a longer cadetship at sea than degree cadets, then attends the post-sea Second Mate competency course and proficiency courses before the Second Mate (foreign-going) examinations.
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Deck officer via the six-month pre-sea course for graduates
A science, engineering or fisheries (nautical science) graduate takes the approved six-month pre-sea deck cadet course, serves a cadetship at sea, attends the post-sea Second Mate competency and proficiency courses and sits the Second Mate (foreign-going) examinations.
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Deck rating (R-NW) by sea service without pre-sea training
A matriculate can also qualify as a deck watch rating through a longer period of sea service with on-board training; ratings without approved pre-sea training or a completed Rating Training Record Book sit an examination for watch-keeping ratings conducted by BEST.
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Deck rating (R-NW) via the pre-sea GP rating course
A school-leaver joins the approved pre-sea course for General Purpose (GP) ratings at a DGS-approved institute (it includes the basic safety courses), obtains a CDC, serves a short period at sea with a Rating Training Record Book, and is assessed for the certificate of proficiency as rating forming part of a navigational watch.
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Deck rating / cadet to Second Mate (FG) via the six-month competency course (DGS Circular 26 of 2026)
Since July 2026 a deck rating or deck cadet who did an approved pre-sea course and has long foreign-going sea service, including supervised bridge watch-keeping recorded in a training record book, can take a six-month competency course in India instead of the NWKO (NCV) route, then the post-sea proficiency courses and the Second Mate (foreign-going) written and oral examinations. The entry qualification is wider than the TEAP ratings stream: 12th in any stream, any degree or diploma, or 10th with an ITI trade certificate.
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Near-coastal deck officer (NWKO NCV) from a deck rating without pre-sea training
A matriculate seafarer who has served in the deck department without approved pre-sea training can reach the NWKO (NCV) certificate after obtaining the rating watch-keeping certificate and a long period of sea service as deck rating, followed by the NWKO NCV competency course and examination.
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Near-coastal deck officer (NWKO NCV) from a pre-sea trained deck/GP rating
A matriculate who completed the approved six-month pre-sea course for deck/GP ratings can qualify as a near-coastal watch-keeping officer: either by serving as an NCV deck cadet under a structured shipboard training programme, or by serving a longer period as deck/GP rating, then completing the NWKO NCV competency course and examination.
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Near-coastal deck officer (NWKO NCV) via a cadet course
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver completes an approved one-year pre-sea deck cadet course (or a nautical degree), serves at sea as a cadet under a structured shipboard training programme, attends the NWKO (NCV) competency course and proficiency courses, and qualifies as officer in charge of a navigational watch on near-coastal ships of 500 to 6000 GT. Nautical-degree cadets are exempt from the NWKO course.
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Rating progression: Able Seafarer Deck
A deck watch rating (R-NW) becomes Able Seafarer Deck after further sea service in the deck department with on-board training in the rating training record book, shorter with an approved training course.
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Watch-keeping officer on near-coastal ships under 500 GT
For small near-coastal ships the officer in charge of a navigational watch qualifies through sea service in the deck department — shortened if the candidate completes special training specified by the Directorate — after first completing the basic safety courses, followed by the NWKO NCV competency course and proficiency courses.
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Engine rating (REW) by sea service without pre-sea training
An engine-room rating without approved pre-sea training qualifies after a longer period of sea service; those without approved pre-sea training whose service is recorded only in a CDC sit a BEST examination for the watch-keeping rating certificate.
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Engine rating (REW) via the pre-sea rating course
A matriculate selected by a company completes an approved pre-sea rating course (including the basic safety courses), obtains a CDC, serves at sea with on-board training recorded in the rating record book, and is assessed orally for the certificate as rating forming part of an engine-room watch.
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Engineer officer from the Indian Navy / Coast Guard (foreign-going)
Naval and Coast Guard engineering personnel have two foreign-going routes: a Mechanician III (or equivalent watch-keeping competence) with a short modular course, or a full-time mechanical engineering degree from an Indian Navy establishment with documented engineering watch at sea; both then take the MEO Class IV examinations.
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Engineer officer via lateral entry to the second year of the Marine Engineering degree
Diploma holders in mechanical, marine, electrical or related trades, first-year engineering students and four-year shipbuilding diploma holders may join the four-year Marine Engineering degree directly in its second year; some lateral entrants do not get the Part A subject exemptions.
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Engineer officer via the Alternate Training Scheme (institute – sea – institute)
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver trains for a year at an approved institute, then serves on board as an engineer cadet, returns to the institute for a final phase, passes MEO Class IV Part A, serves documented sea service as trainee engineer, completes the advanced safety and engine-room simulator courses and passes Part B.
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Engineer officer via the eighteen-month course for electrical engineering graduates
An electrical or electrical-and-electronics engineering graduate takes an eighteen-month marine engineering modular course, then the MEO Class IV examinations and sea service.
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Engineer officer via the four-year Marine Engineering degree
A 10+2 PCM school-leaver joins the four-year Marine Engineering degree (including the course at MERI), which combines class-room, laboratory and workshop training with afloat training, then completes the basic safety courses, the MEO Class IV Part A examination, documented sea service and the Part B written and oral examinations.
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Engineer officer via the GME 8 + 4 scheme (eight months ashore, four months afloat)
The same graduate entry as GME, but the twelve-month modular training is split between an institute ashore and on-board training, then followed by the MEO Class IV examinations.
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Engineer officer via the one-year Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) course
A mechanical engineering or naval architecture graduate takes the twelve-month Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) modular course, then the basic safety courses, documented sea service and the MEO Class IV examinations. Mechanical-and-automation graduates qualify for the course but must still sit some written papers.
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Engineer officer via the two-year course for diploma holders
A diploma holder in mechanical, marine, naval architecture, electrical or shipbuilding engineering takes a two-year marine engineering modular course including afloat training, then the MEO Class IV examinations.
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Near-coastal engineer officer (MEO Class IV NCV) from Navy / Coast Guard sailors
Navy and Coast Guard sailors qualified as MECH-3/ERA-3, MECH-4/ERA-4 or Engineering Mechanics have dedicated progressions to MEO Class IV (NCV): an induction course at an approved institute, advanced safety courses, documented sea service (naval or merchant) and the MEO Class IV (NCV) written and oral examinations.
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Near-coastal engineer officer (MEO Class IV NCV) from trades, diplomas and harbour/inland service
Near-coastal engineer officers come from several streams that start at 10th Standard: engine-room ratings with watch-keeping certificates, ITI marine-related trades, mechanical engineering diplomas, fishing-vessel and inland/harbour-craft engine drivers. After the basic safety courses and sea service an eligibility letter from the MMD admits them to the post-sea course and the MEO Class IV (NCV) examinations.
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Rating progression: Able Seafarer Engine
An engine-room watch rating becomes Able Seafarer Engine after further sea service, shorter with an approved training course.
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Electro-Technical Officer via the bridging course for existing electrical officers
Electrical officers already serving at sea upgrade to the Electro-Technical Officer certificate through the up-gradation-cum-bridging course notified by the Directorate; long-serving electrical officers were also eligible for assessment under the transitional provision.
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Electro-Technical Officer via the pre-sea ETO course
A 10+2 PCM candidate holding an electrical, electronics or related diploma or degree takes the approved pre-sea ETO course, completes on-board training as part of an approved programme recorded in a training record book, and is certified as Electro-Technical Officer.
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Electro-Technical Rating (ETR)
The electro-technical rating certificate has three routes: sea service with training and experience; approved pre-sea or special training with a shorter period at sea; or existing technical qualifications meeting the ETR competences with a short period at sea.
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Becoming a seafarer: the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) — rules from 1 August 2026
Every Indian seafarer needs a Continuous Discharge Certificate. The CDC Rules require Indian citizenship, medical fitness, the five basic safety and security courses, the minimum age and 10th Standard.
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Hotel and service staff on passenger (cruise) ships
Hotel, catering and other service staff join as seafarers through the CDC route, and before taking up duties on a passenger ship complete the approved passenger ship familiarization course (crowd management and safety training); catering staff must also be trained or instructed for their positions.
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Ship's cook
Catering entrants take the approved Certificate Course in Maritime Catering (CCMC) at a DGS-approved institute, obtain a CDC and sail in the catering department. A cook must be trained, qualified and found competent as the Directorate specifies and must be an adult; the Certificate of Competency as Cook requires approved-institute training plus documented sea service and a minimum age.
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Conversion: Chief Mate (500–3000 GT) to Chief Mate (3000 GT or more)
A foreign-going Chief Mate whose certificate is limited to the smaller tonnage band lifts the limit after further sea service, part of it on larger ships, and the Chief Mate examination.
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Conversion: Chief Mate (NCV) to Chief Mate (foreign-going, 500–3000 GT)
A near-coastal Chief Mate with 10+2 PCM converts to foreign-going Chief Mate for ships of 500 to 3000 GT after further sea service as near-coastal watch-keeping officer (part of it after the CM (NCV) certificate), the post-sea courses and the examinations.
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Conversion: Master (NCV) with 10th Standard to Second Mate (foreign-going)
A near-coastal Master (500 to 6000 GT) educated only to 10th Standard converts to the foreign-going certificate at the Second Mate level by completing the Second Mate foundation course (PCME), the Second Mate (FG) competency course and the Second Mate examinations. This is the foreign-going route open to a seafarer with 10th Standard alone.
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Conversion: near-coastal officer (NWKO NCV) to Second Mate (foreign-going)
A holder of the NWKO (NCV) certificate with 10+2 PCM can convert to Second Mate (foreign-going) after sea service as NCV watch-keeping officer, the post-sea Second Mate courses (the foundation course is waived for those who did an approved pre-sea cadet course) and the Second Mate examinations.
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Former scheme: deck rating with 10th Standard to Second Mate (FG) (M.S. Notice 20 of 2008) — obsolete
Closed historical route — kept for reference. From 2008 DGS allowed deck ratings with only 10th Standard to reach Second Mate (foreign-going) through long sea service, the foundation course, the NWKO (NCV) course and certificate, service as NCV officer and the Second Mate competency course. DGS now marks the notice obsolete and included in TEAP, whose ratings stream requires 10+2 with PCM; DGS Circular 26 of 2026 reopened a route for 10th with an ITI certificate, not 10th alone.
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Transitional: existing deck cadets from discontinued 3/6-month pre-sea courses
Cadets who completed the discontinued three- or six-month pre-sea deck cadet courses remain eligible: longer sea service (reducible with a structured shipboard training programme) with supervised bridge watch-keeping, the foundation course and the Second Mate courses and examinations, or the near-coastal NWKO (NCV) certificate. Closed to new entrants: the courses are no longer run.
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Bridge: near-coastal Chief Engineer (NCV Class I) into the foreign-going MEO Class II
The near-coastal engine ladder joins the foreign-going ladder at MEO Class II: a holder of the NCV Class I (near-coastal Chief Engineer, except tankers) certificate takes the MEO Class II Part B preparatory and simulator courses and the Part B written and oral examinations (Part A passed or exempted) to obtain the foreign-going MEO Class II certificate. The diagram's arrows are not in the text; the joining point is read from the page layout.
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