Top 10 Merchant Navy Colleges in India

The shipping Industry is the lifeline of global trade, transporting goods, fuel, etc from one end of the world to another. In its heart lie skilled seafarers who work tirelessly to operate the massive ships which carry the clothes you wear or the food you eat.

Becoming a seasoned seafarer requires experience and expertise, which comes with time and practice. However, most importantly, appropriate training and education from an excellent maritime college assures you of placement in a reputed shipping company with more excellent growth prospects and a higher salary package.

So, if you plan to start a career in the merchant navy, the first step is to select a Good Maritime College.

We will make it easier for you by listing some of the top 10 Merchant Navy Colleges in India (in no particular order) that you can consider.

1. Indian Maritime University (IMU)

IMU was founded as a Central University in 2008 under the Indian Government’s Shipping Ministry.

It is headquartered in Chennai and has six campuses: Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai Port, Navi Mumbai, and Visakhapatnam.

IMU offers 15+ courses related to the shipping industry, has over 250 faculty members, more than 3000 students, and 18 affiliated institutions. It is a part of the International Association of Maritime Universities, which strives to impart excellent maritime training and education.

Indian Maritime University (IMU) (1)
Image Credits: Ahmadbinbilal442/wikipedia

Through its four schools, the university offers a wide range of UG, PG, and PhD courses in Maritime Studies.

Some of its courses include diploma, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree programs in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, GP Rating, GME, HND, DME, ETO, Maritime Management, Post Sea Courses etc.

IMU graduates are more likely to be placed in renowned national and international companies. Its excellent facilities and experienced faculty make it the top choice for aspiring seafarers.

Admission to all courses is through the IMU CET exam, which is held every year. IMU also reserves seats for candidates from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, 8 North-Eastern States, and Jammu and Kashmir.

2. Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA)

This academy is situated in Karjat, Maharashtra and is owned by the Anglo-Eastern Group, a ship management company with more than 700 ships.

It was founded on 15 June 2009 and inaugurated by the then-CEO of Anglo-Eastern Group and his wife.

AEMA guarantees placement onboard the vessel it manages, so it is the preferred choice for many students.

Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA)
Image Credits: aema.edu

The courses offered here are approved by DG Shipping, India, and conceptualised according to the IMO Model Course and STCW guidelines.

It offers the following courses-

  • Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS): A 12-month residential course
  • Graduate Marine Engineering (GME): An 8-month residential course
  • Electro Technical Officers (ETO): A 4-month residential course
  • Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW): Short-term safety courses are mandatory for all seafarers under the IMO STCW Convention.

3. Tolani Maritime Institute

This Maritime College in Pune, Maharashtra, is one of India’s most well-known merchant navy colleges.

The best shipping companies, such as Maersk, NYK, Teekay, Scorpio, Dockendale, Chevron, Torm, etc., visit Tolani to offer placements, and it also has its own company called Tolani Shipping.

Tolani has a highly qualified and experienced faculty. The curriculum at Tolani encourages one to think beyond the obvious as education focuses on critical thinking, soft skills like English communication, problem-solving and presentation skills, which lead to a student’s holistic development.

Tolani Maritime Institute
Image Credits: tolani.edu

The campus has excellent infrastructure, especially sports facilities and a swimming pool. Its hostels are also quite spacious.

Tolani Insitute offers the following courses

  • B.tech In Marine Engineering
  • B.Sc In Nautical Science
  • Diploma In Nautical Science (DNS)
  • Electro Technical Officers (ETO)

4. Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS)

GIEMS is located in Lonavala, Maharashtra, and was founded in 2006 by Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd, India’s biggest private-sector shipping company. This institute also offers 100 per cent assured placements to its students.

Companies like Wallem, Goodwood, Seaspan and Teekay come here to offer campus placements.

Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS)
Image Credits: geinstitute

GIEMS has won many awards and is known for its quality education. It is the first choice of many who seek a promising career in the Merchant Navy.

It offers many courses like

  • Diploma In Nautical Science (DNS)
  • Graduate Marine Engineering (GME)
  • Electro-Technical Officers (ETO)
  • GP Rating

GIEMS has produced many skilled deck and engine officers. The institute covers 18 acres, and its courses focus on theoretical education and practical learning using simulation techniques and on-the-job training, which prepares students for a career at sea.

It also provides specialised offshore training to those who wish to join the offshore oil and gas sector.

GIEMS has modern infrastructure, air-conditioned classrooms and conference halls, a well-equipped library and laboratories, dining facilities, an industry-grade workshop, different simulators, sports facilities, etc.

5. Institute Of Maritime Studies (IMS, Goa)

IMS Goa is said to be one of the best merchant navy colleges in the country. Its website shows a good placement record, and reputed companies like Wallen Ship Management, Scorpio, EXMAR, K-line Ship Management, and V Ships offer campus placements to its graduates.

This institute is ISO and CIP compliant and offers two courses, namely:

  • Graduate Marine Engineering (GME)
  • Diploma In Marine Engineering (DME)
Institute Of Maritime Studies (IMS, Goa)
Image Credits: imsgoa.org

The institute focuses on the overall personality development of its students. It emphasises building practical skills and being disciplined in whatever task you undertake.

It strives to promote Indian Marine Engineers worldwide. It offers training in marine engineering, including operations, maintenance, supervision of marine systems and onboard equipment, maritime laws and security, environment protection, search and rescue, etc.

6. HIMT, Chennai

HIMT is one of the finest maritime institutions in the country, with a commendable track record since its inception in 1998. It offers post-sea courses and pre-sea courses approved by DG Shipping, and also UK MCA-approved courses.

A premier maritime institution in Chennai, HIMT has several campuses:

  • Kilpauk Postsea Centre, Kilpauk, Chennai
  • Presea Campus, Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu
  • HIMT Tidal Park, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  • VIZAG HIMT, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
  • HIMT Mock-up (Practicals), Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
HIMT
Image Credits: HIMT

It has been the recipient of many awards in the past 25 years. On May 10, 2024, HIMT Tidal Park was awarded Rank 1. Outstanding-Best Post Sea Maritime Training Institute 2024 at NMDC 2024 by D.G Shipping and HIMT Kilpauk was awarded Rank 2.

Many successful seafarers have been HIMT graduates. HIMT has a great faculty including senior Master Engineers and Chief Engineers from the Merchant Navy with a high retention rate. Almost all who joined the institution when it opened are still associated with it. The highly experienced marine instructors and staff members give a holistic education to students of the institution.

7. Samundra Institute Of Maritime Studies (SIMS)

SIMS is in Lonavala, Maharashtra, and was founded to develop a pool of competent seafarers trained at all levels to meet the challenges of the continuously evolving shipping industry.

It boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and strives to provide rigorous training to its students that exceeds international mandatory standards.

It offers the following courses-

  • Diploma In Nautical Science (DNS)
  • B.Tech In Marine Engineering
  • Graduate Marine Engineering (GME)
  • Electro-Technical Officers (ETO)
Samundra Institute Of Maritime Studies (SIMS)
Image Credits: Screenshot from samundra.com

Samundra Institute Of Maritime Studies has its own shipping company, Executive Ship Management, Singapore. The company offers assured placement to its students onboard its ships.

8. Training Ship Rahaman

This is among the country’s oldest maritime institutes and one of the best maritime colleges in India. It is in Mumbai, Maharashtra, approved by DG Shipping, and affiliated with the University of Mumbai.

The sponsorship companies include BNSU, Chellaram, MSc, MOL, MSI, Synergy, Mercator, Fleet Management, etc.

Training Ship Rahaman
Image Credits: tsrahaman

Courses Offered at Training Ship Rahman include-

  • Diploma In Nautical Science (DNS)
  • B.Sc In Nautical Science
  • B.Tech In Marine Engineering
  • Graduate Marine Engineering (GME)
  • Pre-Sea General Purpose Rating Training Course (GP)

Training Ship Rahman traces its beginnings in 1910 when Hai Ismail Yusuf, proprietor of Bombay Steam Navigation Company, founded a Marine School as a charitable organisation at Rshid Mansion, Worli Point, in Mumbai, then Bombay.

He founded the school to express his gratitude to seafarers who served on the company’s vessels and wanted to encourage the orphans and kids of the seafaring community to follow in the footsteps of their parents at a time when the country’s maritime sector faced a shortage of trained deck cadets and officers.

9. AMET University

Founded in 1993 with only 14 cadets, AMET is India’s only university which is a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities. It overlooks the sea cradled by the Bay of Bengal, located on the east coast road.

It has about 3500 students pursuing various programmes from diploma to doctoral, through the faculty of maritime studies, faculty of engineering and technology, faculty of science and humanities, faculty of life sciences, faculty of management studies etc.

AMET has excellent infrastructure and well-qualified faculty which promotes research and development, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. It boasts modern teaching aids, workshops, practical training, a marine workshop for training on marine auxiliaries, a hostel, a swimming pool, medical facilities and a ship in campus.

AMET University
Image Credits: Amet University

AMET secured its compliance certificate for ISO 9001:2015 QMS standards from the renowned DET NORSKE VERITAS, Norway.

Around 100 companies conduct placement drives here such as Maersk, Goodwood, Sonangol, Wallems, Shell, Stena, Chevron, VShips etc. Many AMET graduates have secured lucrative jobs on the campus.

AMET also has a diverse atmosphere at it hosts over 700 international students from over 10 nations. It has an ambitious 2025 plan to become a one-stop destination for all maritime-related activities around the world and it has charted out a course to move towards its 2025 milestone.

10. Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training (MANET)

Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training, or MANET, was established in 2001 to train Merchant Navy cadets. Students can pursue two courses at MANET, Pune-

  • B.Sc Nautical Science
  • B.Tech Marine Engineering

It offers placement assistance by providing company-specific training.

Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training (MANET)
Image Credits: manetpune

It is Asia’s first private institute with a ship-in campus. It has a fully operational replica of a ship’s engine room so that cadets feel they are in a real engine room and can better understand the concepts.

It also boasts a sports complex with all indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including an Olympic-level swimming pool. MANET also has well-equipped labs and simulators to offer quality education and training. It has an experienced faculty and a well-curated schedule for cadets to instil discipline and leadership qualities.

Conclusion

Several Merchant Navy Colleges in India promise quality training and education to students and good placements; however, it is best to do your research before applying for admission to any institution.

Joining a reputed college will help you grow in your career, whereas if you choose the wrong college, you will have to struggle to get placed in a good shipping company.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.


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