Q1. What do you mean when you say “Got the whole WORLD in the hand...”?
Ans. Today is the age of Knowledge Workers and its all about the Leadership and Management. Not all professions give you the opportunity to be a Whole Person in a Whole Job. Merchant Marine profession is about the .......Power and Authority, Excellent Pay, life full of Adventure, Style , World Travel, Interesting Job, Peaceful environment, decision making power, management Skills, Creativity, Autonomy, IQ , EQ , SQ, Goals, Prestigious Company, Sense of achievement & Pride, Sense of contribution to Society… the wholesomeness, by virtue of specialized training in specialized profession.
Q 2. What do you mean by Merchant Marine? Is it some kind of Defense forces?
Ans. Merchant Marine also called Merchant Navy is not a Defense or armed forces. Merchant Marine deals with commercial ships and transportation of passengers and goods on waterways. From prehistoric times shipping has had a major influence on human social development. During the old merchant marines days (national fleets of commercial ships) first appeared in the commercial revolution and were also used as second line of Defense. Today, the national fleets have declined (most of them were public companies) paving path for the globalize private sectors and multinational companies to take over. Modern freight ships are equipped with powerful machines for handling cargo and cruise ships industry is providing the luxuries of the finest hotels.
Q 3. What do you mean by “Sense of achievement & Pride, Sense of contribution to Society…"?
Ans. Shipping is an industry characterized by great complexity and by a magnitude of interests. These interests include the shipbuilder, the ship owner, ship operator, the cargo owner, Ship agents , the consignee, Insurances , creditors , harbors/ports/terminals, the men who serve the ship afloat and ashore -- the officers and crew and stevedores. Furthermore, there is the interest of government for their exports and import of food grains & other industries relying on the shipping transportation. There is nothing more international than a ship engaged in foreign trade and there is no industry more vital to the welfare of nations or world economy than shipping. Becoming part of this industry is indeed is “Sense of achievement & Pride and Sense of contribution to Society…"
Q 4. What do you mean "Shortest & Affordable" path to Leadership...Master and Commander?
Ans. As mentioned this profession is all about the Leadership and Management. Ships are only as good as the men who operate them. Without men to load them and take them to sea, the largest and most magnificent of ships would be little more than monuments to the ingenuity of their designers and builders. The working ship is an awe-inspiring thing, but men make her so. The duties of crew members are varied and responsible, concerned as they mostly are with the efficient operation and safety of passengers, ship, cargo and crew. The Master or Captain is the commander of a merchant ship, and the sole representative of management aboard ship. The master has to be not only a skillful navigator but also adept as a leader of men. He manages the ship with the help of his team comprising of deck and Engine officers. In any other industries it may take many years to reach a position such as of a Master.
In merchant marine if you start at 17 years of age, you become 2nd or 3rd deck officer by the age of 19/20 assisting the Master. Depending upon sea time you put in and vacations you take one can become a master by the age of 24-25 years. Therefore, it’s the shortest route to leadership.
Q 5. Why is your course so affordable?
Ans. Our training course is the most affordable when compared to many other schools / colleges / Academies for the professional course of engineering / medicine / architecture / graduation / computers / Law / Management etc. The reason for the affordability is an evidence of a Master and commander - We are the “Masters” managing the training center with skills acquired during the maritime career.
Q 6. How is your training program unique?
Ans. Our training course is the most unique program by virtue of being conducted in Real Time on board the Training Ship-RTS Sindbad, which is fully equipped. We believe that the knowledge and skills transfer is most efficient and is maximized by combining many Senses in a logical manner ( in Real Time with actual Senses).
Q 7. How is quality of course controlled?
Ans. The course curriculum is designed by Institute of Maritime Education & Training Pty Ltd, Australia (IMETA). The training center and the course is audited for its Training effectiveness by the New Zealand Maritime School, Manukau Institute of Technology and New Zealand Maritime. The ship is also audited for the International Safety Management code and International Ship Security Code by the flag of the ship St. Kitts & Nevis (IMO’s - ISM and ISSC codes).
Q 8. What are the pre-requisites to join Pre-Sea Deck Training with RAKTSS?
Ans. To join Pre-Sea Deck Training the pre requisites are as following:
-Unmarried
-You should have valid Passport (For Indians no ECNR check required).
-10+2 with 50% PCME
-Age between 17 & 24
-Eyes 6/6 with Glasses and No color blindness
- Medically and physically fit.
Q 9. What if I have less then 50% PCM?
Ans: If you have more than 50% in 10th grade then we can arrange for exemption or additionally exam to pass 12th grade subjects with lesser than 50%.
Q 10. What if I have PCB in 10+2 and Math in 10th class? Am I eligible for this course?
Ans: If you have more than 50% in 10th grade then we can arrange for exemption or additional exam to pass 12th grade Mathematics.
Q 11. What is the duration of the total course?
Ans: The course consists of three stages of 24 months as given below:
Stage I : As per the International Maritime Organization’s code of Standard of Training and Certification for Watch keeping 95, all Pre-sea trainees have to also complete the following mandatory Basic training(Reg. VI of STCW 95) courses during their training period.
-Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1)
-Fire Prevention and Fire-Fighting (A-VI/1-2)
-Elementary First Aid (A-VI/1-3)
-Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (A-VI/1-4)
-Above mandatory courses are done in India in 2 weeks at our nominated Institute. Thereafter the students join the 12 weeks Pre-Sea Deck Training course in UAE – RAK.
Stage II – Sea Time of 15 months by Sailing on the ship of our partner Shipping Companies. During this period the cadets are taught by Distance Learning Program (DLP) by the New Zealand Maritime School and IMETA.
Stage III - Preparation for Certificate of Competency at New Zealand Maritime School and passing of examination - approx 5 months.
This amount to 23 months and one month for Visa / Vacation etc which makes it to 24 months.
Q 12. What is the fee structure of the total course?
Ans: The fee are most affordable and is AED 80,000 inclusive of Tution for Pre Sea Courses, STCW courses, boarding, lodging, uniforms, books, airfares, transfers, visas, stay in India and UAE. These fees do not include New Zealand fees for the Maritime school course and Examination which is additional AED 25,000.
VISA / Airfare / Boarding Lodging at New Zealand is approx and is anticipated to be AED 15,000. At NZ students are permitted to work 20h per week as part time and can earn back their expenses.
Therefore, in two years an overall fee of AED 105,000 which is even lower than some school fees. Moreover, these fees can be earned back within a year from employment after COC.
Q 13. Do u accept fee in smaller installments?
Ans: As a special case we can workout small installments.
Q 14. Do you have higher Education Loan arrangement with any Bank for attending this program?
Ans: Most of the Banks do give loans for our course.
Q 15. How to transfer money to RAKTSS account?
Ans: Fee must be remitted by Telex Transfer free of any bank charges, directly to the RAK Training Ship Sindbad.
Q 16. Do you take girls for cadets training?
Ans: Yes we do take girl candidates.
Q 17. Is this course/ program approved?
Ans: Yes, the course is approved by New Zealand Maritime School under the authority of Maritime New Zealand (a Crown Entity of New Zealand responsible for maritime certification). All countries which are in the white list (wide this web address) http://www.imo.org/Safety/mainframe.asp?topic_id=68&doc_id=513 can issue the License for the Certificate of Competency.
Q 18. Are the jobs confirmed in your programs after trainings?
Ans: Yes, the jobs are confirmed as per the letter of enrollment.
Q 19. What kind of salary packages are expected during and after trainings?
Ans: After pre sea deck training ( 3 months) the candidates get stipend and not salary for the duration of 15 months as an apprentice on board the ship and it can be between US$ 100 to 400 pm depending upon the company he is in .
However, after the cadet passes COC class III and gets the License to navigate, the salary as an officer ranges from US$2000 to 3000 pm depending upon the company and type of ship he joins.
After class I COC the wages of Chief Officers is between US$3000-8000 and as a Captain US$ 5000 – 15000 depending on ship type.
Q 20. Is Certificate of Competency from New Zealand recognized all over the world?
Ans: Yes, our programs are conducted under the approval of white listed countries and this is what counts as it gives you variety of choice of jobs worldwide. It means the certification from India or New Zealand or Singapore or UK or any white listed country is worldwide accepted.
Q 21. Why do you have fastest COC class III program as compared to other similar courses?
Ans: All the signatory countries have to follow IMO’s STCW 95 code for certification of watch keeping officers. However, any government may issue additional rules / requirements apart from the STCW code and in case of many other countries the sea time requirements are higher.
Q 22. What kind of Degree or Diploma will I get in your programs?
Ans. The course COC class III is equivalent to Diploma in Nautical Science and Master’s license COC Class I is equivalent to Degree. However, in Merchant Marine is totally a professional career & our certificates of competency or License is the main requirement to navigate the ships, just like Aviation.
Q 23. What kind of companies normally select candidates from your course ?
Ans. Names of companies can be noted from our previous batches list on the home page itself against the name of candidates.
Q 24. What kind of jobs normally one get after leaving the Merchant Marine?
Ans. This profession is all about the Leadership and Management. Since 99% of cargo moves by the ships, all the logistics requirements of Domestic Industries / Exporters / Importers are taken care by the professionals from Merchant Marine. Normally, all the managerial / operational / decision making / Surveyors / Compliance Inspectors / Marine Insurance and Risk management / Ship Superintendents Chartering / Ship Operations / Stevedoring / Cargo Operations / Port administration / Port Operations / Maritime Law / Ship Agencies / Cargo surveyor / Bunker (fuel) / Ship Sale and purchase / Inter-modal operations , oil and gas industry …….. etc positions are held by these merchant mariners depending upon the level of competency they had attained. In fact due to shortage of these professionals various courses have come up are teaching the management part. However, the leadership part still remains in the mariners' domain.
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