General Purpose (GP) Rating Course at Sri Nandhanam Maritime Academy imparts multirole training to prospective cadets to enable them to work on board Ships, Offshore Platforms at Sea, at Dry Docks, Oil Field Pipelines and in Ship Building Yards on Shore. The same is facilitated byway of Courses/ Certifications during their additional enhanced training during GP Rating Course itself.
Don’t miss out on this employment edge during recruitment consideration with additional Corporate Certifications from Industry. Always be in demand with multiple options to remain employed, either on Ships, Offshore Platforms. Moving ashore, still, you will get plenty of opportunities in maintaining pipelines of oil fields abroad, only if you complete Qualifications package from Sri Nandhanam Maritime Academy. Shore opportunities include employment at Dry Docks and Ship Building Yards (only for GP Rating Cadets from SNMA).
Roles and Responsibilities of Ratings on Ships
Deck Ratings steer the ship, keep watch and assist the Navigation (Deck) Officer in a range of navigational, operational and cargo duties. In port, you would secure the ship to the dock, carry out maintenance and contribute to the security of the vessel.
- Bosun: Petty officer or head of the deck ratings. Overall in charge of maintenance of the deck structures including chipping, painting, greasing. Carry out functions like anchoring, preparing gangway, hatch covers, lifeboat, splicing ropes. Stand on navigation watch if needed. Usually qualified as watch-keeping rating.
- AB or Able Bodies Seaman: Stand on navigation watch. Gangway or patrol watch in port. Usually qualified as watch-keeping rating.
- OS or Ordinary Seaman: Assist as needed.
- Pumpman: Only found on tankers. They assist in cargo operations on tankers.
Engine Room Ratings are responsible for maintaining shipboard machinery through routine oiling, greasing and servicing, stripping, repairing and fitting equipment parts and assisting engineering officers monitor the smooth and safe running of the main plant (ship’s engine) and other essential equipment.
- Oiler: Usually head of the engine ratings. Assist engineers in maintenance and operation. Usually qualified as watch-keeping engine rating.
- Greaser: Assist engineers in maintenance and operation.
- Fitter: Assist engineers to repair, maintain equipment. Not very common on ships nowadays.
Catering, Hospitality and Onboard Services Ratings perform a variety of jobs in the ship’s kitchen, restaurants, bars and mess rooms (crew canteen and social space). On passenger vessels, they sort bedding and upkeep passenger accommodation. On non-passenger vessels the Catering Rating will likely be the Ship’s Cook or Cook/Steward, feeding and taking care of the entire ship’s complement.
- Chief Steward: In charge of catering: food provisions, cooking, bedding, toilets, housekeeping of accommodation areas.
- Steward: Housekeeping, meal service.
- Chief Cook: In charge of cooking, provisions
- 2nd Cook: Assist as needed in the galley.
To become one of these skilled seafarers you need to be passionate about going to sea. You’ll be motivated and willing to learn new skills in order to work as part of a team. Accepting responsibility, working unsupervised and getting on well with others will also come naturally.
Sri Nandhanam Maritime Academy, Tirupattur – 635601, Tamil Nadu
Admissions Phone: 95 4354 4354 Email: admissions@snma.edu.in