The Hindu Business Line : Common entrance test for maritime admission mooted

The 14-member committee set up by the Ministry of Shipping to go into maritime employment system in India has suggested that the country should move towards a system of Common Entrance Test (CET) for admissions into maritime courses.

It has suggested that the Directorate-General of Shipping should attempt to put such a system in place for admissions in the academic session beginning 2007, or at the latest by 2008. If the number of universities involved presents a problem to a unified system, it is recommended that the Ministry should consider making affiliation to the Indian Maritime University compulsory for all DG-S approved marine courses.

Noting that the DG-S is not adequately staffed to undertake this task, the committee felt that CET should be conducted by outsourcing the work. "The nearest solution would be the IIT-JEE examination method of selection of candidates not only for the government-aided colleges, but all marine training institutions.''

The seafarer population is at present estimated at 1.43 lakh in the country, including 27,000 officers (nautical and engineering), 26,500 officer trainees and 20,350 registrations under process. The Indian National Shipowners' Association had estimated in July last year that about 9,000 Indian officers and 21,000 ratings were employed in the national fleet, while another 18,000 officers and 34,000 ratings on foreign-flag vessels.

The intake capacity of all officer-training institutes has risen steadily to touch 5,263 in 2006. "Further creation of training capacities will not be necessary and, till the waiting trainees are absorbed, may even call for a gap of a year or two in admissions," the committee pointed out.

It also said that there is a disturbing shortage of sea time berths to absorb the number of pre-sea officers and rating trainees. This has resulted in a bank of trainees waiting for sea time slots, a "clandestine system for fleecing more money from financially stressed carrier-seekers for being granted sea time berths," and quality high school graduates no longer being attracted to a sea-going career.

The committee suggested that only those colleges that can find tie-ups for sea time berths in excess of their existing intake capacities should be considered for expansion.

In another significant recommendation, it felt that the intake of rural youth should be widened. It also recommended that the DG-S should be strengthened by creating a post of Controller of Examinations, who would report directly to the Director General.

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