Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Director General of Shipping outlining as many as sixteen transition schemes for the retiring naval personnel to join the Merchant navy.

DG Shipping has listed out the schemes which were drawn after an elaborate and detailed discussion with the Navy

To implement these schemes, an MOU has been signed by Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Personnel on behalf of Indian Navy and Mr Amitabh Kumar, Director General of Shipping, on behalf of Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India.

Some of the key highlights of the transition schemes are: It caters for transition of personnel involved in Engine Room work on Naval Ships that is from rating to artificers to Engineers and also provides option for those working on electrical duties as well as mechanical engine duties. It caters for equivalent transition with minimum bridge courses, sea-service & examination of those who during their tenure with Indian Navy have reached a certain position but were unable to gain step by step STCW Certification.

 The radio officers of the Indian navy can obtain certificate of competency as General radio operators of Merchant navy vessels. The Indian navy deck sailors can transit to merchant navy deck ratings forming part of a navigational watch. Indian navy Chefs to Certified merchant navy cooks. The scheme envisages acceptance of training given by the Indian Navy to its officers and ratings and the sea service experience on Indian Naval or cargo ships on the basis of a certificate issued by the Indian Navy.