What life in Merchant Navy looks like?

[Parth]

[Norman]

Wake up, steal a container, sell it on the black market – boom, money.

[Shreya]

It's very hectic. What you see on reels about merchant guys is 100% fake. Almost 90% of people face depression and loneliness. Because of the current war, we get daily missile alerts on the ship and can't sleep since the war started. Whenever I talk to my family I have to lie and say everything is fine, but our life is similar to the army – the only difference is we don't wear a cap. Let me tell you, money is not everything in the merchant navy; money can cost your life. What's the purpose of money when you can't sleep or eat?

Recently Iran targeted a container vessel that was just 1 mile away from my ship, which I am currently sailing on. It was scary as hell.

In the comment section people are just yapping; 90% of Indian people don't know anything about MN, their source of info is insta reels which are 100% fake.

Sorry for bad English.

[Vinod]

Money is really good, but if you have to stay at sea for 6 months, that's tough.

[Yash]

How can one join and what is the success rate?

[Lokesh]

A friend of mine came home from his first sail in January after finishing college, but because of the war his sail has been cancelled indefinitely, without salary of course. He is on a gas carrier. Life is hard there; they work around 16 hours a day.

[Charu]

It's a bit tough, which is why it's not a popular career choice in India.

[Kalpana]

I don't know about the lifestyle, but they seem to lack character and have many red flags.

[Yamini]

I cleared the entrance exam for Marine Engineering back in 2008 (in fact I was one of the toppers in the country) but backed out at the last minute because a voice inside told me this wasn't the right path. I instead pursued B.Sc Computer Science, then IT and MBA.

I am financially comfortable today but not earning anywhere near what I hear merchant navy folks make. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had taken the other path years ago. Life would have been totally different, but I can't say if it would be better or worse.

[Anupama]

My maternal uncle is in the Merchant Navy. He joined as a cadet and is now a captain. He earns close to ₹20 lakh per month, plus extra money from selling things like diesel. His work cycle is usually around 3 months at sea and then 3 months at home. He is paid only when he is at sea, so in total he gets paid for around 8–9 months a year.

The money is extremely good. While at sea, there are basically no personal expenses. Flights, transport, hotels, and everything related to joining or leaving a ship are arranged by the company. He has also travelled to 40+ countries almost for free. On top of that, there is no tax if he stays out of India for more than 180 days in a year.

But this job is not easy at all. It is very hectic, highly demanding, and comes with huge responsibility. Your decisions can literally become a matter of life and death for the crew. There are also many laws and regulations to follow at sea, and if something goes wrong, you can even end up in jail. There is also a medical check‑up every single time before joining a ship.

So the crux is simple: this job is not for faint‑hearted people. The money is great, but the pressure, responsibility, and time away from family are massive. Staying away from family can be very hard for some people. Internet is available on most ships now, so video calls with family are possible, but you will still miss important life events. My uncle missed the birth of both his children.

[Yash]

There's no social life or media, you stay away from family for around 6 months, and physical fitness is a must because the job needs both mental and physical work. You also have to keep studying until you reach chief engineer rank (for the engine side) and clear the exams for promotion, so you won't stop learning once you're in the merchant navy.

The good part is the pay: once you become chief engineer you earn almost ₹8‑10 lakh per month, and on LNG/LPG vessels it can go up to ₹15‑18 lakh per month (though promotions are slower on gas tankers because they need experience). You get to travel to different countries. All your income is tax‑free and your salary during the contract is 100% savings.

There are pros and cons to this profession. Think deeply about what you want, what you can sacrifice. Trust yourself and go for it.