DNS (Diploma in Nautical Science) started with the objective of producing more Deck officers for the Shipping industry globally because of the high rise in demand for seafarers. The initial stages as always come with difficulties and challenges for any program, so it came with Diploma in Nautical Science too. India was creating a good number of Deck officers globally but was not able to provide jobs to all, which was the drawback for the Diploma in Nautical Science course at that time. The only way to deal with the drawback was to provide jobs to all and that’s how the government came up with the rule that if you want to pursue a Diploma in Nautical Science course you will have to take sponsorship first from a company which means you will have a job before even getting into the college and now India ranks 3rd globally for producing Deck officers for the shipping industry. Now let us discuss what exactly Diploma in Nautical Science is and how one can make a glorious career in Merchant Navy by pursuing Diploma in Nautical Science.

Introduction to Diploma In Nautical Science (DNS)

Diploma in Nautical Science is an undergraduate course of one year. The course consists of two semesters and provides an opportunity for class 12 students to pursue a career as a Deck Officer. The one-year pre-sea training course is followed by 18 months of sea time training, during which cadets are entitled to a stipend and free boarding and lodging. Upon completing 18 months of pre-sea, the candidate obtains an Advanced Nautical Technology Certificate. Subsequently, you are eligible second mate CoC examination for the post of 3^rd mate conducted by the Mercantile Marine Department of the Government of India.  

After completion of on-board training of 18 months, a cadet must obtain an SSTP completion certificate from the institute and must attempt/ appear for IMU Semester III, IV & V Exams.  Subsequently, the cadet has to attend 4 months of post-sea (shore-based) training (Semester VI) which is the preparatory course for the ‘Second Mates’ examination conducted by the Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS), at approved institutes. The cadet also has to complete mandatory STCW courses (ROC/ARPA, GMDSS, PSCRB, AFF, MFA, and ECDIS) for his/her ‘Second Mates’ (Foreign Going) license which takes approximately 2 months. 

On successful completion of Second Mates examination and STCW courses, a cadet is awarded Second Mates (F.G) Certificate of Competency by D.G. Shipping, Govt. of India and qualifies to join any seagoing vessel as a third officer. 

After completing all six semesters, a cadet is awarded a degree of B.Sc. (Applied Nautical Science) by Indian Maritime University.

Diploma in Nautical Science Eligibility Criteria  

The eligibility criteria of Diploma in Nautical Science course are as given below: –

AGE

The maximum age Criteria for Diploma in Nautical Science is 25 years, and the minimum age eligibility is 17 years on the date of commencement of the course. A relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 2 years for women candidates.

Educational qualifications

At the 10+2 level, A minimum of 60% in aggregate ( min 70% in AEMA and 65% aggregate) in PCM subjects is necessary to apply for a Diploma in Nautical Science course.  A candidate who has completed B.Sc. in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry or Electronics (with Physics) from a recognized university, with an average of more than 50% marks in the final year and more than 60% as a PCM aggregate at 10+2 level.  A candidate who has completed a B. Tech degree from a university recognized by UGC with a minimum of 50% in the final year and more than 60% marks in PCM at the 10+2 level.

English	Candidate should have obtained not less than 60% marks in English as a separate subject, at either 10th or 12th standard or in the Degree course conducted by a recognized Board/   University. No relaxation for SC/ST candidates in English.
Physical fitness and Medical Criteria	Candidates should be physically fit with 6/6 eyesight without visual aids and no color blindness or night blindness, as specified by DG Shipping.

Diploma in Nautical Science Admission Procedure

For admission in the Diploma in Nautical Science course, one needs to have the sponsorship of a shipping company and also must have cleared IMUCET (a good rank helps in merit).

Talking about IMUCET (Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Examination), It is an examination that takes place all throughout the nation, conducted by the Indian Maritime University. The duration of the examination is 3 hours, and it consists of 200 MCQ format questions which are divided into sections of Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Aptitude, and General Knowledge. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers but there is always a chance of change in pattern in the future. For example, during the pandemic period, the IMUCET exam could not be conducted, and students were given awarded ranks as per 10+2 basis (called Normalization).  For Diploma in Nautical Science aspirants, IMUCET is conducted twice each year in the month of June (for the August batch in which around 50000 students apply) and December (For the February batch in which around 15000 students apply). 

For more details for the IMUCET exam click on the link below: –

• www.imu.edu.in

Now for admission into the Diploma in Nautical Science course, the second most important part is getting a sponsorship from a good shipping company. 

First, Let Us Know What is Sponsorship?

Sponsorship is a process in which shipping companies have already selected you as a future employee before the start of your pre-sea training. This means that the company has already provided you with a job offer and you do not need to worry about placements after the completion of the course. In simplified terms, it means getting campus placements even before joining the college, which is one of the biggest advantages of the Diploma in Nautical Science course. So, the question of JOB SECURITY never arises in your mind. 

How and When to Apply for Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) Sponsorship?

The application process for sponsorship starts much before the IMUCET exam. So, one must be very vigilant as different shipping companies and colleges take out their forms at different times.  Below we will be mentioning the best colleges and shipping companies for the Diploma in Nautical Science course, with their website links, and please also find below the link of the telegram group “IMUCET DECODED” which is a must for all the IMUCET aspirants as this group is being mentored by Chief Engineer Praneet Mehta.

To obtain sponsorship, one must clear the online test, psychometric test followed by an interview, and medical rounds for that particular shipping company. So, the challenge is if you have applied for the sponsorship for three shipping companies, even though the exam pattern may remain the same that is online test followed by a psychometric test and then followed by an interview round, but the questions asked by the companies can be entirely different. For example- Scorpio focuses a lot on aptitude and reasoning questions whereas Anglo Eastern focuses on Mathematics a lot and on the other hand Great Eastern focuses on GK, Current Affairs a lot. The challenge does not end here, it’s the interview that tests your excellence where one can be asked anything from nontechnical questions like introduction, strengths, and weaknesses, why merchant navy to technical questions like simple trigonometric formulae, Reflection, Refraction, Questions from GK, Current Affairs, Geography, and the list goes on. So a student must not only be good at communication skills but have a good understanding of subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, etc. 

NOTE: – As per Chief Engineer Praneet Mehta who is the founder of Merchant Navy Decoded and the Director of JMDi Academy Dehradun (https://jmdiacademy.com) it is the sponsorship that defines your career. Getting sponsorship from a good shipping company means your future is in safe hands. It is better to wait or quit on your dreams, than joining a bad shipping company or taking a shortcut to get into the merchant navy.

Please note, sponsorship does not mean that the shipping company will be paying for your education.  The good news is that educational loans can be obtained from any bank explaining that The Diploma in Nautical Science program eventually leads to a BSc Nautical Science degree. Since it is a common misconception that it is a Diploma Course only and one cannot go for higher studies in future.  

If you want to know more about education loans visit the link down below to read the whole blog regarding education loans.

https://www.merchantnavydecoded.com/education-loan-let-us-know-all-about-it/

Reputed Companies Offering Sponsorships for Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS): –

Companies offering Sponsorships	Colleges
Anglo-Eastern group	Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA).
Great Eastern Shipping	Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies (GEIMS).
Executive Ship Management	Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies (SIMS)
Synergy	Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) and   International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida, TS Rahaman.
Scorpio	TMI, Applied Research International (ARI), and IMI Noida, TS Rahaman.
Shipping Corporation of India	Shipping Corporation of India – Maritime Training Institute (SCI-MTI)
Torm Shipping	ARI, Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)
Fleet Ship Management	ARI, International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida and Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI), TS Rahaman.
Dockendale Ship Management	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida
Mediterranean Shipping Company	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida , Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)
Tolani Shipping	Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)
Wilhelmsen Ship Management.	Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI)
MSI Ship Management	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida
Pacific International Lines	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida
MMSI Shipping	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida
V Ships	International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida

Sponsorships are essential for a secure future in shipping. The college will ask you to submit the documents regarding your sponsorship and other personal details, after which the candidate will be asked to take admission to the college. It is important to note that the Government of India has made it mandatory for students to obtain a sponsorship before joining Diploma in Nautical Science pre-sea training.

Best Diploma in Nautical Science Colleges

Given below is the list of all the Diploma in Nautical Science colleges that are recommended by Merchant Navy Decoded and other relevant information regarding those colleges. These colleges have been shortlisted on the basis of their facilities, infrastructure, faculty, and training standards. Diploma in Nautical Science aspirants should attempt to achieve one of these colleges given below, rather than settling for something lesser. 

• Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA)– It is considered the best training institute today, and has its own shipping company (Anglo-Eastern Ship Management), which has more than 700 ships in its fleet. It is in Karjat, Maharashtra. For the August DNS Batch total of 160 candidates and for the February DNS Batch total of 80 candidates are selected. Anglo-Eastern Ship Management is the only company providing sponsorship in AEMA. 

The college offers :-

 • Good employee treatment once placed in the company. 

 • Institute of one of the biggest shipping companies today. 

 • Top of the class training facility. 

It conducts its own examination named Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA) online written test. The Diploma in Nautical Science course fees in this institute is around 7.60 lakhs.

 AEMA Diploma in Nautical Science Admission Procedure and Eligibility:

Senior School Certificate/ Higher Secondary Examination/ Class XII/ 10+2 From a recognized Board/ University with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM), with not less than 70% marks in PCM and 65% aggregate/ Equivalent GCE – UK “A” level/ International Baccalaureate Diploma

Online Entrance Test The test consists of 2 sections,  for a total duration of 3 hours.  Part-1  Topics  English, Aptitude, and Mechanical   Engineering Topic.  Duration: 2 Hours  Marks  Total 100 Marks (No Negative marking   applies)  Levels  The level of difficulty for this test is based on the Degree level Syllabus. Part-2  PSY Test  “Personality based   questions” Duration: 1 Hour

Panel interview  Shortlisted candidates who’ll pass the online tests, shall be notified via email to appear for   an interview

Medical Examination and Eye-test  Candidates, who’ll pass the interview, will be directed to undergo a medical examination conducted by   Company-appointed doctors will also be conducting an Eye Test that conforms to the requirements of medical examination rules of the Directorate General of Shipping.  (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

To know more click this link:

Admission – DNS

• Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI) – It is considered one of the top training institutes today like AEMA and has its own shipping company (Tolani Shipping). The intake is around 80 students and the fees for the one-year Diploma in Nautical Science course is 5 lakhs. It is located in Pune, Maharashtra. TMI has established itself as one of the most premier institutes for pre-sea training providing best-in-class training facilities. 

The Merchant Navy Decoded approved companies offering sponsorship for Diploma in Nautical Science cadets from this Institute are:  

1. Fleet Management 

2. Scorpio Marine Management  

3. TORM Shipping 

4. Wilhelmsen Ship Management 

5. Mediterranean Shipping Company 

6. Nortrans Shipping 

7. V-Ships 

There are many other companies offering sponsorship to cadets, but one has to be very careful before applying to others than those mentioned above, we have done a detailed study about shipping companies mentioned above and they are all good shipping companies and if you are not able to get into any of them and you are applying for other don’t forget to do your own study before getting into one: –

TMI Diploma in Nautical Science Selection Procedure and Eligibility:

Upon receipt of the IMU test result & Class XII exam result, inform TMI indicating your registration number.  Passing of IMU test and a minimum of 60% in the PCM group in Class XII is mandatory.

Panel interview  Shortlisted candidates who’ll pass the online tests, shall be notified via email to appear for   an interview.  Medical Examination and Eye-test – Candidates, who’ll pass the interview, will be directed to undergo a medical examination conducted by company-appointed doctors who will also be conducting an Eye Test which conforms to the requirements of medical examination rules of Directorate general of Shipping   General of Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

Shipping companies will select the candidates and issue sponsorship letters.  Candidate to  submit/report to TMI with sponsorship letter and other documents.

To know more click this link:

DNS (IMU) Programme

• GEIMS- Similar to TMI and AEMA, GEIMS also is an institute with its own shipping company (Great Eastern Shipping), but the difference lies in the type of company. Great Eastern is an Indian shipping company and salary is paid in Indian Currency. The Diploma in Nautical Science course fee in GEIMS is around Rs. 6.5 lakh rupees. A total of 120 students are admitted, combining both February (40) and August (80) batch. It is situated in Lonavla, Maharashtra. Unlike Anglo Eastern, Great Eastern does not have a huge fleet of ships so to keep the waiting period short they have been calling a lot of shipping companies to their college for the recruitment like Seaspan, Goodwood, World Tankers, MTM.

GEIMS Admission Procedure and Eligibility:-

Eligible candidates will be informed to   undergo Basic   Intelligence Test (IQ Test). Shortlisted   candidates will appear for IMU (Maritime   University) CET as GE Shipping sponsored candidates.

Candidates will have to undergo a full medical checkup as per the practicing doctor approved by D G  Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx).

Shortlisted Candidates must compulsorily   undergo a   psychological screening test.

http://www.geinstitute.com/courseoverview.html

• International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida  – It is a private institution established by the efforts of 12 eminent personalities from the world of shipping in 1991 to eliminate the shortage of manpower in running the global supply chain. The Diploma in Nautical Science course fee in this institute is around Rs. 5.72 lakh rupees. It is situated inGreater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. A total of 120 students is admitted, combining both January and July batches. Some of the good shipping companies which are part of their Diploma in Nautical Science program are Fleet Management, MSC, MSI, MMSI, PIL, Synergy, Dockendale, and V ships. 

International Maritime Institute (IMI) Noida Diploma in Nautical Science Admission Procedure and Eligibilty: –

Upon receipt of the IMU test result & Class XII  exam result, inform IMI  Noida indicating your registration number.  Passing of IMU test and a minimum of 60% in the PCM group in Class XII is mandatory.

Medical Examination and Eye-test  Candidates, who pass the interview, will be directed to undergo a medical examination conducted by company-appointed doctors who will also be conducting an Eye Test which conforms to  the requirements of  medical examination  rules of Directorate General of Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

Shipping companies will select the candidates and issue sponsorship letters.   The selection procedure includes Written   Offline/Online Test, a Psychometric/LI PI Test, and Personal Interview.

http://www.imi.edu.in/pre-sea-courses/noida/diploma-nautical-science

• SIMS- Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies is another private institution that has Executive Ship Management as one of the stakeholders. A total of 160 students is admitted, combining both January and July batches for Diploma in Nautical Science.  The total fee is close to 6.6 lakh rupees and provides the best infrastructure and training facilities in the country. It is situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Even though this college is the best college in the entire country when it comes to infrastructure and training but still Merchant Navy Decoded does not recommend this institute highly as the waiting period is too high sometimes even going up to 18 months. Readers keep yourself updated if the waiting period reduces in the future, you can surely join the college. In the recent past even they have started calling other shipping companies.

SIMS Admission Procedure and Eligibility :-

Eligible candidates will be informed to   undergo an MCQ   examination (60   minutes) and an   English writing exam for 10 mins.  Shortlisted Candidates must compulsorily   undergo a   psychological screening test.

Cadets who have cleared online tests, as well as psychometric tests, undergo a personal interview. After they have successfully cleared the interview, they are called for medicals.

Candidates will have to undergo a full medical checkup as per the   practicing doctor   approved by D G   Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

https://www.samundra.com/presea_deck_training.asp

• T S Rahaman- Training Ship Rahaman is another private institution that also has been consistent in providing quality training to Indian seafarers since 1910. It is not affiliated with any Shipping company. The training facility and infrastructure is great. The total fee is close to 3.55 lakh rupees. It is located at Mumbai, Maharashtra. Some of the good shipping companies which are part of their Diploma in Nautical Science program are Scorpio, Goodwood, Synergy, Fleet.

TS Rahaman Admission Procedure and Eligibility:-

Eligible candidates will be informed to   undergo an entrance examination and psychometric test.

Shortlisted Candidates must compulsorily   undergo an interview.

Candidates will have to undergo a full medical checkup as per the   practicing doctor  approved by D G   Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

https://tsrahaman.org/imu-diploma-in-nautical-science/#1576478900147-41506e59-b6c4635e-47ac

• ARI – Applied Research International was founded by a visionary educator, Capt. SSS Rewari who had served actively as a seafarer for 5 decades. Today, He has formed an institute second to none. The institute is gaining resemblance with each passing day and considered one of the best training institutes in the country. It is in Delhi and charges 5 lakh rupees for a 1-year Diploma in Nautical Science course and the number of admissions taken every year varies but it is roughly round 120 cadets. The companies offering sponsorship to ARI cadets are Synergy, Fleet, XT Shipping, Ex-mar, Torm, Thome, and PIL. The facilities and infrastructure are enough to provide the adequate experience that is required by a cadet to excel on board a ship.

ARI Admission Procedure and Eligibility:-

Candidates apply directly from the institute website. Eligible candidates will be informed to   undergo an entrance examination and psychometric test.

Shortlisted Candidates must compulsorily   undergo an interview.

Candidates will have to undergo a full medical checkup as per the   practicing doctor approved by D G   Shipping. (https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/MerchantShippingRules.aspx)

ARI Admission procedure

Diploma in Nautical Science Syllabus and Curriculum

The syllabus for the one-year pre-sea Diploma in Nautical Science course is given below. The syllabus may vary from one college to another. Diploma in Nautical Science course includes the study of Navigation, Conservation Laws, Naval Architecture, Effects of Waves, Movement Variables, Ocean Structures, Towing and Mooring, Project Planning, Ship Geometry, Fluid Dynamics, Dynamics of Onshore Structures, Principles of Naval Architecture, and Coastal Structures. Apart from this, students learn principles of load lines, ship geometry, hydrostatics, classification, marine vessel stability, and examination of propulsion systems and drilling rills. 

Diploma in Nautical Science course also covers vibration monitoring of submerged vehicles and structures, effects of waves, and how to effectively design breakwaters and design seawalls. They are also introduced to methods for preparing, collecting, and presenting data through written reports that include the analysis, planning, and evaluation of each experiment done by the students. This ensures the overall understanding and operational readiness of the student when they will go for their first sail.  

Diploma in Nautical Science Course Syllabus

•Diploma in Nautical Science SEM 1 Syllabus-

·Chartwork ·Navigation ·Maritime History ·HR ·English (Part of English) ·Applied Maths ·Applied Physics ·Electrical ·Electronics ·Bridge Equipment ·Ship Construction ·Stability ·Cargo work ·Seamanship ·Workshop (Practical only)

•Diploma in Nautical Science SEM 2 Syllabus-

·Chartwork ·Navigation ·English Lab (Practicals) ·Bridge Equipment ·Navigation lab (practical) ·Workshop (practical) ·Ship Construction ·Stability ·Cargo work ·Seamanship(both practical and theory) ·MARPOL ·Marine Engineering 

Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) FAQ

If you want to know about IMUCET and how to join the Merchant navy, you can contact.

JMDi Academy

Contact no:	+919051206790, +917417085906
Website	https://jmdiacademy.com/
Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/jmdiacademy/
JMDi Academy’s Result	https://jmdiacademy.com/2022-result/
IMUCET Decoded Telegram Group	https://t.me/imucetdecoded

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