Encouraging Indian millennials to choose a career in the merchant navy is a tough task due to the availability of diverse career options, according to Vinay Singh, Group Managing Director Marine HR, Anglo-Eastern Group.

They need immense guidance and encouragement to join the seafaring profession, he added.

In the past, careers involving foreign travel were highly sought after in India. However, with the opening of the economy, the IT/service sector became more popular, resulting in a steady decline in the appeal amongst Indian youth for careers in merchant navy, airline crewing, etc.

Globally, there are only around 1.5 million seafarers, and India contributes approximately 160,000 professionally certified seafarers and 250,000 total seafarers. Over the past decade, the number of Indian seafarers has experienced a significant growth rate and the number of certificates of competency issued for entry-level deck officers has increased by 85 per cent.

Kerala, the maritime state, is a major source of skilled human resources required by the Indian Ship Management industry, he said.

Those who prefer not to work in an indoor environment, the merchant navy offers unique benefits, especially for younger individuals in India. These benefits include global exposure, working with different nationalities and types of ships, a challenging work environment with new technologies, rapid professional growth in a sector facing a shortage of skilled professionals, and attractive perks such as tax-free wages, job security, and extended leaves between assignments.

Anglo-Eastern Group accepts over 700 new trainees from India annually, making up about 25 per cent of the Indian market for fresh seafarers, he said.

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