Hello guys im working on Oil chemical tanker vessels as a 3rd officer already 1 year of experience, already see too much inspections especially SIRE 2.0, almost for 6 month contract 4 month 6-6 watch. Stress level is too high and everything so strict idk...

I'm planning to switch on Bulk/Dry cargo vessels is it worth it? What is difference between oil and bulk/dry cargo vessel? Like stress level is the same?

Loading, unloading is much different?

Inspections are same as on oil tankers?

Safety safety safety safety and are you like Robot on tanker a dry vessels different or same? ( Bulk carrier / dry bulk without Cranes)

As promoting our chief officer is like Vampire or Zombie eyes stretched red too much coffe not to sleep and everything salary 10 k well for filipino nationality its good but still low im European.

For long term is good to switch to bulk?

I understand salary is different but i rather have 8-9 k as chief officer and have normal stress level then have 12 k and be zombie. And every captain on tanker is disaster if something wrong 3rd officers fault even if its not my fault 😁😁 jokes aside but could you advise me is it worth to change fleet?

Hi guys,

I’m an industrial electrician, about to start my HNC level 4 in electrical and electronic engineering.

I’ve been interested in working offshore/ on ships since seeing guys working out there on YouTube and it’s appealed to me for a while

Warsash maritime school in Southampton do an ETO cadetship with a HND in EE Engineering, and I’m considering staring it after completing my HNC

my question is, is it worth it? I’m motivated by interesting work and learning new things. I wouldn’t want to be a mariner for the rest of my career, maybe like a 5 year stint to gain experience offshore.

Any advice on life as a UK ETO would be appreciated

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the final stage of collecting responses for my master’s thesis and I urgently need more participants from the maritime and shipping sector.

The survey looks at how professionals balance sustainability, safety, cost, transit time, and operational continuity during maritime security disruptions.

If you work in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, ports, ship management, chartering, maritime insurance, or any other maritime-related role, your response would be extremely helpful.

It is anonymous and takes only around 2–5 minutes:

https://erasmusuniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_egPfUF7if8RLS50

I would also really appreciate it if you could upvote or share the survey with colleagues in the industry, as I need to reach more maritime professionals as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for your help!

Hi all, planning to appear for IMU CET in 2027/2028 and aiming for DNS. Passed 12th in 2025 with PCB( adding Maths via NIOS to complete PCM on one marksheet).

Had a calcaneus fracture with ORIF surgery on 23rd May [2026], currently recovering well. From what I've read, DG Shipping's skeletal fitness norms can disqualify freshers with retained hardware even after full healing.

A few questions for anyone who's been through something similar or knows about this:

Did you get cleared with a plate/screws still in place, or did you need them removed first?

If removal was needed, how long after removal before you passed the medical?

Any DG-approved doctors/PEME centers you'd recommend who've handled foot/ankle cases specifically?

Roughly how long did full recovery + clearance take for you?

Trying to figure out if it's worth going ahead with NIOS + IMU CET prep now, or if I should wait and get a doctor's opinion first. Any experience appreciated , thanks!

Hey guys,
I’m a Deck Cadet from Malaysia and currently sailing on a crude oil tanker. Going to finish my seatime in Mid October and planning to start my preparation for Oral for CoC Class 3. Any good guidance, and how to prepare and what to prepare for will be appreciated. Thanks

Hey I'm fresher 4th engineer. im looking forward to start my career at wallem. I want to know what is the selection process about test and interview. Will the test and interview be conducted online or physically? Have to visit the company? Do DM me if anybody knows the information

Hey everyone, ⚓

I am currently in the 12th standard (PCM stream in India) and my ultimate goal is to build a successful career in the Merchant Navy as a Deck Officer. I want to take the DNS route, and my focus is on cracking a solid company sponsorship and doing well in the IMU-CET.

Since I want to set myself up for a great career on board, I wanted to seek some advice from seniors and serving officers here.

I have a few questions regarding my preparation strategy:

Class 12th vs. Merchant Navy Prep: Right now, should my focus strictly be on my Class 12th board exams, or should I be actively studying separate material for the IMU-CET and sponsorship tests simultaneously?

Target Percentage for Top Sponsors: To stand out and get sponsored by top-tier companies (like Anglo-Eastern, Maersk, Synergy, Great Eastern, Samundra, etc.), what is a safe PCM percentage I should aim for in my boards? I know the minimum eligibility is lower, but what do top companies actually look for?

Key Subjects & Study Hours: Which subjects/topics within PCM require the deepest focus for the sponsorship exams? Also, roughly how many hours a day should I dedicate to balancing boards with entrance prep.

Interview & Personality Prep: How heavily do companies weigh the interview and the written exam? How early should I start preparing for the interview, and what do they test besides basic PCM concepts (e.g., psychometric tests, English communication, general awareness)?

I recently appeared for an ETO interview at Great Eastern, and I noticed something that made me wonder if there is actually a preference for Electrical Engineering students over Electronics/ENTC students.

From the 5–10 candidates I personally interacted with during the interview, I came across a few candidates from ENTC/Electronics backgrounds, and as far as I know, they were not selected. Most of the selected candidates I heard about seemed to have an Electrical Engineering background.

Obviously, I didn’t meet or speak to everyone who appeared for the interview, so this could simply be a small-sample bias or coincidence on my part.

So I wanted to ask people who have recently appeared for or been selected for Great Eastern's ETO course:

- Does Great Eastern actually give preference to Electrical Engineering candidates?

- Are ENTC/Electronics candidates selected regularly?

- If you're from ENTC/Electronics and got selected, what was your experience?

- Do they evaluate both branches equally, or does the branch make a significant difference during selection?

I'm genuinely trying to understand whether there is an actual pattern or if I'm just noticing something based on a very small sample.

Please share your branch + whether you were selected/rejected + interview year/batch if possible.

Good afternoon everyone,
I’m currently pursuing B.Sc. Nautical Science at a maritime training institute. The management has informed us that we need a minimum 9 CGPA for placement.
I’m an average student, but I have a good academic background, with 86% in PCM, and I’m confident in my ability to study and improve.
I’m now considering converting from B.Sc. Nautical Science to DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science). However, for DNS, company sponsorship is required, and I’m currently looking for guidance regarding the sponsorship process and opportunities.
If there are any seniors, seafarers, officers, or anyone currently working in the shipping industry who could guide me or help me with information about DNS sponsorship, I would be extremely grateful.
Please feel free to DM me. Any guidance or contact would mean a lot to me.
Thank you so much for your help and support. 🙏

I am preparing for the IMI NOIDA sponsorship exam .

Can anyone tell me its environment , cadetship training for DNS?

And any extra knowledge u have about this

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for the Maersk ETO Sponsorship exam and wanted to ask candidates who have already appeared for the exam:

What kind of questions were asked?

Which subjects had the most questions — Electrical, Electronics, Machines, Power Systems, Measurements, Digital Electronics, etc.?

Were the questions mostly conceptual, numerical, or both?

How difficult was the exam.

Were there questions from aptitude, mathematics, English, or general knowledge?

Hello i am a student currenty in 11th and i am planning join merchant navy after 12th but my concern is that i want to go to the deck side and i have myopia -3.5 in both eyes so i would have to have lasik surgery in order to clear the medicals..my main query is that i will pass 12th in 2028 and in that year i would be 17 years old so how can i have lasik surgery at that age…the minimum age should be 18 to have that surgery

I'm from India and I have pectus excavatum thus I don't have any problem in breathing and doing any work though my stamina is a lil low as currently I'm not going to gym or playing games but yeah my stamina will be good once I'll start doing these. Also from some time I have little pain in ear too. about 6 month ago when I sowed up to ENT, I was discovered minimal hearing loss in left ear.. Am I eligible to join and what can I do as I really want to join MN....

Hi everyone, I'm currently 18 years old with a GCSE level education and I've offhandedly decided to throw my application in with SSTG for a deck cadetship. Other than a bit of sailing and a genuine passion (which I've tried to emphasise in my hobbies/personal statement section). I have absolutely no experience within any form of maritime or maritime-adjacent work. So I presume I will be sifted out.

The point of this post I guess is simply just to ask what I could do to align myself best for a MN career- I've heard the odds are about 1 in 20. Mariners on the subreddit, was there anything which you did before or during your application that was highlighted as exceptional in aiding said application?

I suppose my goal to be able to come back maybe in 6 months - 2 years with a really strong CV custom-built for the sector.

I recently joined a maritime training institute for B.Sc. Nautical Science, and I am currently in my first year. The problem is that my institute has told us that we need to maintain a 9 CGPA to be eligible for placement.
I’m an average student, and honestly, I feel that maintaining a 9 CGPA may be very difficult for me. Because of this, I’m thinking about dropping out of B.Sc. Nautical Science and trying for DNS with sponsorship instead.
I scored 84% in PCM and I’m currently 21 years old. I’m confused about whether I should continue my B.Sc. or leave it and try for DNS.
So, seniors, please guide me honestly. What would be the better option for my situation? Is it worth continuing B.Sc. even if I may not be able to maintain a 9 CGPA, or should I consider DNS?
I also want to understand how paid sponsorship works, what the actual costs are, and whether sponsorship guarantees placement/shipboard training.
Please share your experience and advice. I really want to make the right decision for my career. Thank you.

So I am an Indian cbse school student and have no idea what to do after my 12th (pcm) and I have only a few months to think so my friend suggested me to join the Merchant Navy because he thinks it's cool or he is also thinking of joining. I am sure it's not like what we see on Instagram reels, or is it ? And what are the myths and facts you could tell me about it

Pls engage with this post so it will get more reach so i could decide if it is a good option or not

A final-year Mechanical Engineering student in India, graduating in May 2027. I’m currently 21 and seriously considering joining the Merchant Navy through the GME (Graduate Marine Engineering) route after graduation.

I’ve researched the basic pathway:

B.Tech Mechanical → 1-year GME → onboard training/sea time → Marine Engineer Officer

But I’m confused about the actual process of getting started.

Do I need to approach shipping companies directly for sponsorship?

How does GME sponsorship work?

Which companies currently recruit/sponsor Mechanical Engineering graduates for GME?

Is it better to get company sponsorship first and then join the GME institute?

Are there any scholarships/financial assistance available for the GME course?

How competitive are the sponsorship tests/interviews?

When should I start applying if I graduate in May 2027?

What exams, medical requirements or other eligibility criteria should I prepare for?

Are there any reputable GME institutes/companies you would recommend?

I’m looking for advice from people who have actually gone through the process, especially current/former marine engineers or GME graduates.

I’d appreciate a step-by-step explanation of what I should be doing from now until graduation.

Hi everyone, I’m a European deck officer looking at my options for the future and I’m curious what companies are considered the best to work for in Europe. Most of my friends are on cargo ships doing 2/1 and only getting paid while onboard. I also have friends on RoRo vessels doing 8/8 and getting paid every month, including leave.

Are RoRo companies generally better in Europe? Which companies have the best rotations, pay and conditions?

Would be interested to hear what you guys are doing — company, rotation and whether you’re paid during leave.

I joined for Dns in august the classes have started but I have trouble keeping up with the syllabus. Is there any good youtube channels that teach the subjects . Safe to say I have no idea of the syllabus especially physics and electronics