How to start a Merchant Navy Marine Engineering career with METI Kochi GME course
Keen to know how to become an engineer on a Merchant Navy ship with a marine engineering training course? This article provides one such avenue, namely, joining the Graduate Mechanical Engineers (GME) course at the Marine Engineering Training Institute (METI) of Cochin Shipyard. Find out what is the course fee, eligibility criteria, campus facilities, and the application procedure for the METI GME course.
Cochin Shipyard's Marine Engineering Training Institute (METI) offers a Government-approved Graduate Mechanical Engineers (GME) course which is an excellent opportunity for those keen on taking up a career in marine engineering as an engineer on ships in the Merchant Navy. With further qualifications and passing the relevant exams, you can even rise the ranks to become the Chief Engineer of a ship. 
[Banner created from a print advt. in TOI, Kochi edition, 29th Sept. 2021]About METI Campus
The institute is located within the main premises of Cochin Shipyard, which is at Perumanoor, Ernakulum, Kochi. It is here that all training sessions take place, while the main academic classrooms and hostel facilities are at the nearby premises of the Cochin Shipyard at Vigyana Sagar, Girinagar, Kochi.
The workshops are equipped with all the required machines, tools, gauges, jigs, fixtures, and other equipment. The hostel provides comfortable accommodation with a safety locker, and mess facilities. There is a swimming pool and sports facilities as well. The CSL Medical Centre provides free first aid, but you have to bear the cost of any treatment that may be further required at an outside hospital. An ambulance is available on call at all times for emergencies.About the METI GME course
You need to complete the GME course for the subsequent shipboard training (this is of six months' duration) which, in turn, comes before appearing for the Class IV Certificate of a Competency exam (MEO Class-IV) that makes you eligible to become an Officer in the engine room of a Merchant Navy ship.
The 12-month residential course at METI that is conducted in English is approved by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Govt. of India, and all aspects of the course, including lab work, workshops, etc are in adherence to the syllabus as approved by DGS. The admission process to the course is generally initiated in the last quarter of each year, with the number of seats usually restricted to fewer than 120. No stipend is provided during the course. To complete the course, you need to score at least 50% for each subject of the course, including in the practicals. You are also required to maintain a training manual and a work diary, both of which are given to you by the institute.
METI GME Eligibility requirements
Nationality criteria
Only Indian citizens are permitted to enrol on the GME course, and you must have an Indian passport at the time of admission.Age criteria
You should be 28 years of age, as of 1st January of the year in which the course begins (for example, for the course starting in 2022, the age is applicable as of 1st January 2022).Academic Qualifications
You should be a Graduate in any of the below-mentioned fields, with a minimum of 50% in the qualifying exams-
Note- refer to the official information brochure to know the specific categories of branches.
Additionally, you must have secured a minimum of 50% in English in either the Class 10 exam or the Class 12 exam, or the Diploma/Degree qualifying exam.Health and medical fitness
It is essential to be in sound physical and mental health. For this, you must produce a medical fitness certificate from a DG Shipping-approved Medical Practitioner in the prescribed format. The medical certificate should have a validity of at least 15 months from the commencement of the GME course. [To know the updated list of approved Medical Practitioners refer to the DG Shipping portal - https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MaritimeHealthBranch.aspx]Physical standards norms
You must have a clear vision, with no abnormalities in eyesight. You are not eligible for the course if you have colour blindness. Similarly, the hearing must also be good with no difficulties. The minimum acceptable height is 157cms, with the co-related weight and proportionate chest. Psychological requirements
You must pass the psychological screening test (this is the Merchant Marine Personality Evaluation or MMPE test) that may be conducted on behalf of DGS as per requirements.
METI GME Course fees
Other than the tuition fee, the course fee covers expenses towards uniforms, study materials, library fee, lodging and boarding, charges for use of the swimming pool and labs, as well as Group insurance and the membership fee for student membership of the Institute of Marine Engineers. The fee does not include expenses for stationery, personal toiletries, and laundry charges. You must bring your engineering drawing instruments and a pocket calculator.
The fee is as follows-On-board ship training
On-board ship training of six months is not a surety on completing the GME course. You will be required to have a sponsorship letter from a Shipping Company or a Manning Agency. The letter can be submitted at the time of getting enrollment for the GME course, or at least six to eight months from the start of the course. METI may assist you in getting this sponsorship. Checklist of documents for GME course admission
Other than the medical fitness certificate, and relevant academic certificates, at the time of admission you are required to sign an agreement on a Non-Judicial Stamp Paper of Rs. 50/- in the prescribed format given at the website which indemnifies METI and Cochin Shipyard against any claim arising during the tenure of training. It is also mandatory to submit a police verification certificate in the prescribed format.
This is the complete list of documents required to be produced before admission-
The hard copies of all the above documents should be sent by Speed Post. Other than the photo, and the signature, all the above documents are required to be submitted in pdf format. The soft copy of the Passport and the Class 10 certificate in PDF format and the photo and signature in jpg format will be taken at the METI office for uploading, at the time of admission. Original certificates will be returned after verification. Ensure that you have an additional set of photocopies of all certificates for future requirements during the course.
Once you pass the interview successfully, you have to produce the following documents- Medical certificate as mentioned above, in original, and with photo; a Police Verification certificate from the nearest police station, in original; and the agreement in Rs. 50/- Non-Judicial stamp paper in the prescribed format. You are also required to remit the fees for the Indian National Database of Seafarers (INDoS) number (Rs. 1432/-), along with the Course fee.Application procedure for admission to GME course
The application form should be downloaded from the METI Kochi official website, completed, and sent by Speed Post/Email by the due date to the H.O.D., METI, CSL. Currently, the procedures of document verification, counselling, and the provision of the INDoS number are all scheduled to be held online. If there are any changes, they will be updated on the METI website.Contact information
Marine Engineering Training Institute (METI)
Vigyana Sagar, Girinagar,
Kochi-682020
Ph: 0484 – 250 1437 / 2501223.
Mobile: 8129823739/9447195982.
Fax : 0484 – 2370897.
Email: metihod@cochinshipyard.in
CSL Website: https://cochinshipyard.in/
So are you keen to join METI's GME course? Admission to the January 2022 batch is now open and the last date is 30th November 2021. You can also explore other Marine courses in India.
Follow
This is a very valuable and informative article for the students desiring to make a career in the merchant navy.
Merchant navy is still a good career in the sense that if the student can withstand the sea life and also undergo some of the courses from time to time then one can become a senior officer in the ship either in the engine side or the deck side within a span of 5-6 years. At that level the monthly remunerations reach a good level of Rs.6 to 8 lakhs per month and considering that an individual can go for duties at least 8-9 months in a year, it transforms to a healthy earning of around Rs. 5 lakhs per month which is not available even to the IT engineers in high positions in the industry. So, it makes sense to pursue this career line and the only requirement is that the candidate should be having robust health and attitude for doing work on high seas.
Those people who have not done engineering in the core subjects like Marine or Naval Architecture but have done it in Mechanical Engineering can take advantage of this course that is GME from METI, Cochin Shipyard. I would strongly recommend it for those eligible candidates who want to make a remunerative career in less time by joining the merchant navy.