Altaf Shaikh Interview

An Interview with a Merchant Navy Chief Engineer (Marine) Altaf Shaikh regarding sea, ships and service.

Q- What is Marine Engineering?

Altaf- It is a branch of engineering which deals with construction, running, maintenance and repair of ship and its engines.

Q- What are the subjects taught in marine engineering?

Altaf- Besides academic subjects such as Math, Physics, chemistry etc the other subjects are: Naval Architecture, ship Construction, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Boilers, Electro Technology, Fuel & Fuel Technology, Instrumentation & Automation, Mechanics, Heat & Heat Engines, Turbines & Diesel Engines, Fire Fighting and Safety at Sea.

Q- Why did you select Marine Engineering as your profession?

Altaf- Number one: I wanted to do something different from others. It was only a year passed that Pakistan Govt. set up Marine Academy in Chittagong, East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) to teach and train young Pakistanis to provide marine engineers and navigators for progressing merchant navy of the country.

Number two reason for selecting this career was that I had an affiliation and passion for the sea and ships. The beautiful shining colurs of ships and white uniform of ship officers always fascinated me when we Sea scouts of our Petaro College used to visit Manora during holidays.

Q- What is difference between Pakistan Navy and the Merchant Navy?

Altaf- Pakistan Navy is a branch of our Military. They have fighting vessels equipped with torpedoes and anti air craft guns etc. Besides exercises most of the time naval ships remain in port to safeguard port and shores of the country. Merchant Navy deals in promotion of economics and commerce of the country. Merchant Navy ships are privately owned and are used for transportation of cargo and passengers from one port to another, from one country to another country.

Q- How one gets selected for each Navy?

Altaf- Pakistan Naval Academy, PNA (for Pakistan Navy) and Pakistan Marine Academy, PMA (for Merchant Navy) advertise for the selection process through daily newspapers in July or in August. Students who are in class 12 (Inter Science) can apply and get application forms etc. The forms are to be filled and sent with required documents. Dates for Entry Test and Medical Test are announced before the Intermediate Board Exam. The final selection is done on the basis of Intermediate exam marks.

Q- How many candidates are selected each year?

Ans- Each year, the number of selected Cadet Officers for Pakistan Navy and Merchant Navy varies. Usually it is from 25 to 40 cadets for each branch.

Q- How many students apply for Navy?

Altaf- The number again varies but it is always more than 1000. The top candidates get admission as engineering cadets or Nautical (Executive) Cadets.

Q- Which branch is better one; Engineering or Nautical?

Altaf – No one can say that one is better than other. Both are technical branches and both have better future. Engineering branch deals with ship machinery while Nautical branch deals with Navigation, Astronomy, cargo handling, ship maneuvering  & management etc.

Q- Where is Pakistan Marine Academy these days?

Altaf – After separation of East Pakistan to Bangladesh, a new Marine Academy was set up in Karachi. Presently it is located in a Mauripur Area called Grex.

Q- What degree one gets after graduation?

Altaf – During 2 years stay at Pakistan Marine Academy, the successfully passing out cadets (Engineering as well as Nautical) get B.Sc (Maritime Studies) degree from the University of Karachi. After graduation, nautical cadets can join ship as Deck Cadet Officer and carryout further training there. While, engineering cadets, join ship after a year of workshop (Shipyard) training. On board ship they remain trainee engineers for a year.

Q- What are the ranks of Merchant Navy Officers?

Altaf- A marine engineer after graduation and training of workshop and a year on board is promoted to 5^th Engineer or 4^th Engineer depending on the size of the ship. Then with sea experience and further exams he is promoted to 3^rd Engineer, 2^nd Engineer and finally Chief Engineer. While Nautical cadets is promoted to 3^rd Mate (3^rd Officer) and then 2^nd Mate and Chief Mate (Chief Officer) and finally the Master of the vessel (Captain of the Ship).

Q- On ship who is the boss; Captain or the Chief Engineer?

Altaf- Technically Captain represents the owner of the ship and is known as the Master of the Vessel and others are known as crew members. But Engineers have their own respect and technical knowledge. Both Captain and Chief Engineer wear epaulette with four strips and the salary is also almost the same.

Q- After graduation from the Naval Academy or Marine Academy is there job confirmation:

Altaf- In Pakistan Navy there is a job confirmation and there is a permanent posting till retirement age. After that one gets pension and other benefits also. Their ranks are permanent and military ones such as Lieutenant, Commander, Captain, Commodore, Admiral etc equivalent to Army ranks Captain, Major, Colonel, Brigadier, General etc.

In Merchant Navy one has to hunt for the job after graduation and usually one gets it after some waiting as senior officers keep on leaving sea life for shore jobs. In Merchant Navy one can serve national shipping company or any foreign company. 2ndly it is not permanent job. It is usually on yearly contract or on voyage contract basis. The other contract is continued on mutual consent.

Q- What are the shore jobs available for Merchant Navy Officers?

Ans- After achieving higher post i.e. after sailing as Chief Engineer or Captain on some foreign going vessel one can opt for shore job. There are many jobs available for captains and chief engineers of the ship. Some are: Teaching Institutions, such as Marine Academies, Maritime University, Seamen Training Centre, etc. There are ship management companies in which Captains and Chief Engineers look after the management and running of the ships from shore. Captains can join Port management of any country as local Pilot to guide incoming or outgoing ships in the port. Chief Engineers can join some factory, Power Plant or some 5 Star Hotels as they have got same machineries of ships such as boilers, pumps, Air-conditioning system, generators etc.

Q- What is salary scale in Merchant Navy?

Ans- As there is no pension or provident fund in Merchant Navy service and as there is no weekly holiday at sea and one has to work round the clock so the salary scale range is always higher in every country and one feels financially sound in this service. Present salary scale announced by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping is as under:

Deck Cadet/ Trainee Engineer                Rs.47000/- per month

3^rd Mate/ Fourth Engineer                        Rs 2 lacs to Rs 2 ½  lacs p.m

2^nd Mate/ Third Engineer                          Rs 2 ½ lacs to Rs 3 ½ lacs p.m

Chief Officer/ 2^nd Engineer                       Rs 4 lacs to Rs 5 lacs p.m

Captain / Chief Engineer                          Rs 5 ½ lacs to Rs 7 lacs p.m

The salary depends on type of vessel and also the cargo it is carrying. Passenger ships, Oil Tankers and Chemical Tanker ships have higher salary than container and general cargo ships as more duty and risk is involved.

Q- What is the website of Pakistan Marine Academy?

Altaf-  www.marineacademy.edu.pk

Q- What about the age of candidate who applies for Marine Academy?

Altaf- The year he applies he should not be more than 20 years on 31^st December of that year. The Application Form can be downloaded from the above website.

Q- What is G.P. training which takes place in Seamen’s Training Centre?

Altaf: Besides Engineers and Navigators there are certain number of seamen who help in engine room, on deck and in Kitchen etc to carryout different works. They are called seamen for General Purpose (GP). According to International law they all have to take basic training and pass certain sea courses such as Survival at Sea, Fire Fighting, etc. These are usually short courses of 3 months which everyone has to pass.

Q- How about job opportunity for them?

Altaf- The job opportunity is very little as there is a greater number of GPs on stand by list and there is seldom requirement. The seamen’s Training Centre imparts training only. It is not responsible for providing job. For jobs GPs have to search through internet or by local agent of various shipping companies of the world.

Q- Being Chief Engineer of Ship and Head of Marine Engineering Dept. What is your advice for the youngsters who would like to join sea life?

Altaf- I think for one who is interested to be officer of ship (Navigator / Marine Engineer), Class X to Class XII are the most important 3 years. He should study English, Math, Physics, Chemistry and Computer subjects thoroughly. He should maintain his health also as only people with strong mental and physical health can survive and face the problems and difficulties which occur at sea. One cannot run away from studies as till one becomes Chief Engineer/ Captain of the ship he has to pass different international exams after the completion of each period of Sea Time.