How Long to Become Captain
in the Merchant Navy?

The Complete Timeline

Becoming a Captain in the Merchant Navy takes approximately 12 to 15 years from joining as a Deck Cadet, assuming you progress on schedule. Here is every step:

DNS Route vs B.Sc Route — Which is Faster?

DNS gets you to sea faster. From joining the coaching batch to sailing as a Cadet takes approximately 2 to 2.5 years via DNS Sponsorship. Via B.Sc Nautical Science, the same point takes 4 to 4.5 years. Both lead to the same rank progression once at sea — the difference is just the starting point.

What Makes Progression Faster?

• Starting with a top company — Maersk, Anglo Eastern, Fleet Management run structured cadet programmes that accelerate your sea-time and certification preparation
• Clearing COC exams first attempt — Certification exams at each rank level are competitive; strong preparation at coaching stage builds the foundation
• Consistency — Staying at sea, not taking excessive leave, builds sea-time faster

The Engine Side Timeline

Engine Cadets progress to Chief Engineer on a very similar timeline — 10 to 12 years from cadet to Chief Engineer at $10,000+/month. The certification path is different (Class IV → Class II → Class I COC) but the timeline and salary outcome are comparable.