Can Commerce & Arts Students Join the Merchant Navy? Here’s How

Introduction

There’s a common belief that only students from science backgrounds can join the merchant navy. But that’s not true. Even if your background is commerce or arts, you can build a career in the merchant navy through entry-level rating or catering roles. In this article, I’ll walk you through GP Rating, CCMC, other courses, eligibility, career path, and tips to stand out.

Merchant Navy for Commerce & Arts Students: Two Main Routes

Here are two paths particularly suited for commerce or arts students:

1. GP Rating Course – for deck or engine crew roles
2. CCMC Course (Certificate Course in Maritime Catering) – for catering / hospitality roles onboard.

GP Rating Course: Your Gateway (Deck / Engine Crew)

What is GP Rating?

GP stands for General Purpose Rating. It’s a six-month pre-sea training program approved by DG Shipping that prepares you for both deck and engine tasks. After this, you’ll go on to sea service to gain experience.  

Because GP Rating covers both deck and engine work, you have flexibility: you may be assigned to deck side or engine side depending on the ship’s requirement.  

Eligibility Criteria

To enroll in GP Rating:

• Academic qualification: At minimum, pass your 10th standard from a recognized board, with at least 40% aggregate, and 40% in English.
• Or, 12th pass (any stream) with similar minimums.
• Some institutes also accept 2-year ITI (e.g. fitter, mechanic) with minimum 40% and 40% in English.
• Age: Usually between 17.5 and 25 years (some relaxations for SC/ST).
• Medical fitness: Must meet standards set by DG Shipping. This includes good eyesight (6/6 in better eyes), no colour blindness, physical fitness, etc.

Course Structure & Training

• Duration: 6 months, fully residential. 
• Covers both theory and practical training: seamanship, ship knowledge, engine basics, safety drills, fire fighting, navigation basics, etc. 
• After pre-sea training, you go for structured sea service (on-board training). Many GP Rating courses include this as part of their design.

Career / Progression Path

1. After GP Rating and sea training, you join as Trainee GP Rating (deck/engine) – roles include ordinary seaman, wiper, oiler, fitter etc.
2. With experience and required service, you can attempt officer exams / functions to rise to 3rd Officer / 4th Engineer levels.
3. From there, the ladder continues: 2nd Officer / 3rd Engineer → Chief Officer / 2nd Engineer → Captain / Chief Engineer. (You’ll need to clear orals, exams, and meet service time criteria.)

This path allows commerce or arts students to eventually reach officer/engine roles, though it’s longer and more competitive than direct science entry.

CCMC Course: Catering / Hospitality Role on Ships

What is CCMC?

CCMC stands for Certificate Course in Maritime Catering. It’s a 6-month program (pre-sea) focused on training you for roles in ship catering, kitchen, food service, housekeeping etc.  

The ship always needs a catering department, and quality of life onboard is heavily influenced by food, hygiene, and catering management. So CCMC plays an important role.

Eligibility Criteria

• Academic qualification: 10th pass (some institutes may allow 12th) with 40% aggregate and 40% in English. 
• Age: Generally between 17.5 and 25 years at the time of joining. 
• Medical & physical fitness: Must meet DG Shipping standards (vision, health, color vision, etc.).
• In some institutes, additional criteria like valid passport, residential stay (hostel), no gaps, etc.
  

Course & Training

• Duration: 6 months of pre-sea training. Some institutes also include shipboard practical training.
• Training includes: Food production, food & beverage service, housekeeping, maritime familiarization, safety, galley operations etc.
• After training, you begin shipboard work in catering / hospitality roles.

Career / Progression Path

1. Begin as trainee cook or trainee general steward onboard.
2. After gaining experience, you may be promoted to second cook, chief cook, or catering officer depending on ship type, cuisine, reputation, and certification.
3. Some may move to hospitality or catering roles ashore, cruise liners, hotels, or even become hotel managers or instructors.

So CCMC offers a stable maritime path for arts/commerce background students with interest in cooking and hospitality.

Also Read: Sailing Towards Success: How to Become a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy

Other Related Courses & Options

Beyond just GP Rating and CCMC, there are some additional courses that might interest commerce/arts students aiming to join merchant navy:

• Deck Rating Course
  Similar to GP Rating, but more focused on the deck side (seamanship, navigation support).
• Engine Rating Course
  Focused specifically on engine room work; more technical, but you can access it after basic qualifications.
• Diploma in Marine Engineering
  Though more aligned with science/technical stream, some institutes may admit 10th pass students into diploma (if allowed).

These courses broaden your options. For example, someone could start with GP Rating, then transition to Deck or Engine rating later as they qualify.

How to Stand Out & Secure a Job

Because many candidates pursue GP Rating or CCMC, competition is fierce. Here are some tips:

• Sponsorship & Sponsored Colleges: Some maritime training institutes are “sponsored” — meaning you get placement tie-ups or guaranteed shipboard training if you clear certain exams. Getting admitted via a sponsored seat gives you a leg up (you know you’ll get onboard training).
• Perform well in sponsorship exams & interview: Some companies conduct exams or interviews when offering sponsorships. Prepare hard for these.
• Medical & fitness readiness: You’ll be screened by DG Shipping approved doctors. Be sure you maintain good physical and vision standards.
• Choose D.G. Shipping approved institutes: Only training from approved institutes counts for official certification and employability.
• Gather strong documents & records: Keep all academic mark sheets, transcripts, identity proofs, passport, medical certificate, etc.
• Networking & internships: Where possible, do short internships, ship visits, connect with alumni, or assist in maritime events — this gives you exposure and references.
  

Things to Note 

• Even though commerce/arts students can join via rating or catering, if your ambition is a technical/officer role, your path is longer and may require promoting yourself via exams, sea service, or switching to technical education later.
• The eligibility and rules (age, medical, academic) may change over time per DG Shipping / maritime authorities. Always verify with the latest circulars.
• The onboard to officer promotion is not automatic; you’ll need to meet sea time, exams, and performance criteria.
• In some roles (especially in engine or technical roles), having a science/technical foundation helps in the long run. So if possible, try to gain extra knowledge in math, physics, or basic electrical / mechanical concepts — even self-study.
  

Conclusion

Yes — commerce and arts students have valid routes into the merchant navy. The GP Rating and CCMC courses are your main access points. With good performance, dedication, and smart choices, you can carve out a maritime career even without a science background.