- Marine Engineering and Research Institute, MUMBAI
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The Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI, mumbai), formerly known asthe Directorate of Marine Engineering Training (DMET), is India's national institute for the training of marine officers and engineers.
MERI offers a three-year Bachelor's degree program in maritime sciences (i.e combination of B.Tech marine engineering and B.Sc. nautical science, admissions for which are made through the Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) conducted by IITs) and a postgraduate program in marine engineering known as PGDME(Post Graduate Diploma in marine engineering). The degree was however granted by the renowned University of Bombay, With the establishment of the Indian Maritime University in March 2009, the affiliations for all courses have been transferred to the IMU, which would award its own degrees. ====
Contents
History
Marine engineering training in India had its formal beginning in 1927 on board the training ship Dufferin. 8 years prior, the first Indian owned vessel, S.S. "Loyalty" sailed out of Bombay Harbour on April 5, 1919 for London. The vessel was owned by M/S. Scindia Steam Navigation Company. The Master and the other officers were British. Subsequently, Sir P. S. Sivaswamy Iyer moved a resolution in the Indian Legislature to train Indians for the merchant marine. The R.I.M.S Dufferin was acquired by the Department of Commerce and commissioned as a training ship. On November 23, 1927, the first batch of 50 nautical cadets joined the I.M.M.T.S. Dufferin under the command of Capt. Superintendent Sir Henry Digby Beste. In 1935, training of engineering cadets also commenced on the Dufferin with each batch consisting of 25 nautical and 25 engineering cadets. Some famous graduates were Capt. M. J. Sayeed of NOL, Vice Admiral R. D. Katari, India's first Indian Chief of Naval Staff, DMET's founding Deputy Directors Mr. S. Kasthuri (who later went on to head INS Shivaji and Cochin Shipyard) and Mr. T.K.T. Srisailam. At least eight of the Dufferin's graduates rose to beadmirals. Many of the graduates rose to be the Principal Examiner of Engineers and the Chief Surveyor to the Government of India. At least one, K. Ramakrishna, was appointed as the Principal Examiner of Engineers at the DoT, UK.
In 1947, Article 246 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India mandates that the Indian Union has jurisdiction and the responsibility for "Maritime shipping and navigation, including shipping and navigation on tidal waters; provision of education and training for the mercantile marine and regulation of such education and training provided by States and other agencies." On the recommendation of The Merchant Navy Officers Training Committee constituted in 1947, by the Government of India, the function of pre-sea training of marine engineers was transferred ashore under a new name. The 'Directorate of Marine Engineering Training'(DMET in short) commenced operations on August 10, 1949 in temporary facilities in Boribunder in Bombay, with an intake of 20 students Bombay.
The Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai, established in 1948, is one of the largest marine training institutions in the world, with over 1200 students, offering nearly fifty post-sea courses that meet IMO standards. The LBS CAMSAR and MERI both shares the same campus, situated at Hay Bunder Road, Sewri.
LBS offers a comprehensive range of training programmes for merchant navy officers, in tune with the regulations of DG Shipping. As part of a revamp of the marine engineering training process in India, in October, 1991, the Government of India appointed a Committee on Maritime Education and Training - COMET, under the chairmanship of Dr. Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, ex-Secretary General of International Maritime Organization, to study the status of all maritime training institutes in the country and present recommendations. Based on COMET's findings, the Merchant Marine Education and Research Trust - MMERT, was formed with the assistance of ship owners' associations, as a first step, towards the formation of an Indian Maritime University, which will, in the future, supervise and control maritime education at Indian Institutes. The four government owned Maritime Institutes, namely, LBS CAMSAR Mumbai, TS Chanakya, Navi Mumbai, MERI Kolkata, and MERI Mumbai were integrated under the auspices of the Indian Maritime University on June 6, 2002.
The decision has been taken to start a Deemed University with headquarters in Chennai and subsequently to a full fledged University. The society is at present functioning through the Board of Governors, which have broad based representation including representatives of Government, Shipowners, professionals etc. The Minister of Shipping is the President of the IIMS and The Secretary (Shipping) to the Government of India is the Chairman of the Board of Governors. DMET/MERI celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on 14 December 2010.
Academics
MERI offers these two courses : • B.Sc.(maritime sciences) • PGDME The Mumbai unit of MERI has played a significant role in maritime education in the country. In view of the great demand of qualified merchant navy professionals, MERI started a one-year training programme to adopt graduates in mechanical engineering / naval architecture to become marine engineers. The next step was the introduction of the three-year polyvalent B.Sc. (maritime science) degree course at MERI Mumbai in 2003, with a new philosophy: that the polyvalent officer has the combined knowledge of both the fields — nautical science and marine engineering.
In other words, the skills developed in MERI Kolkata and TS Chanakya programs are combined in the polyvalent package., and appropriate practical training develops all the required skills. The course has the approval of Directorate General of Shipping and the affiliation of the University of Mumbai. On completion of the B.Sc. (maritime science) degree course, the cadet should attend 18 months approved on-board structured training program (12 months nautical plus six months engineering). After completion of 18 months of structured onboard training, cadets may appear for the 2nd Mate (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency written and oral examination of the nautical stream, or Class IV Part 'B' Certificate of Competency written and oral examination of the engineering stream. The cadet has the option to appear in both the examinations and obtain Certificates of Competency of both the disciplines. Since the cadets possess the B.Sc. (maritime science) degree, they are eligible for exemption from Part "A" examination of Marine Engineer Officer Class IV Certificate of Competency, as well as the foundation course for Second Mate (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency. They are also exempted from the preparatory course requirement for Second Mate (Foreign Going) and Marine Engineer Officer Class IV Part 'B'.
Training
The training programme is so designed, to inculcate officers like qualities and high sense of discipline amongst the cadets on similar lines to that in Naval or Army Officers/establishments. MERI has a large workshop with machinery, equipment and steam and diesel power plants for training and to meet IMO. Students visit marine workshops (Mazgaon Dockyard Ltd.) for on the job training. Laboratories are provided for cadets/students to conduct practical experiments. In order to meet the IMO requirements for marine engineers working on board ship the training curriculum has been oriented to comply with the requirements of the STCW 95 convention.
Admission
There are 40 seats for B.sc Maritime Science(BMS) and 120 seats for Post-Graduate Diploma in Marine Engineering(PGDME) in MERI, Mumbai.
120 seats for PGDME entry at MERI,Mumbai is though sponsorship from foreign shipping companies and Indian Shipping companies including The shipping Corporation Of India.
Addmission to the BMS course is made through IIT-JEE. Candidates must have passed intermediate examination with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English at the time of appearing for counseling. 15% of the total seats are reserved for eligible candidates belonging to Scheduled cast,7.5% for Scheduled Tribe and 27% seats are for OBC candidates belonging to non-creamy layer.
Infrastructure
The land area is 10 acres, fully residential & situated near the sea shore, at Hay Bunder Road,Sewri, Mumbai 400033,with hostel facilities for 300 cadets. Laboratories include Mechanical Lab, Hydraulic Lab, Heat Lab, Electronic Lab, Electrical Lab, Control Lab, Boiler Lab, Computer Lab, Marpol Lab, Simulation Lab, and Seamanship Lab. The institute has a technical library, stocked with books, journals, videos, and periodicals. The workshop has a test rig, diesel engine and working models of ship machinery and components. Residence in the hostel is compulsory and in dormitories for men and women, and cadets wear uniform throughout their period of training. Cadets are required to inform and take permission from hostel warden to go outside the college campus.
Annual Activities
SPORTS DAY is the annual Intramural Sports meet in the month of November. MODE MAKING & HOBBY COMPETITION is a one day fest organized by the collage in the month of march. CASTROL TECHNICAL PAPER PRESENTATION is the annual technical paper presentation of the institute organized by CASTROL INDIA LTD. IME TECHNICAL PAPER PRESENTATION is the annual technical paper presentation of the institute organized by INSTITUTE OF MARINE ENGINEERS.
References
External links
- http://www.imare.in/
- http://iims.dgshipping.com/
- http://www.dgshipping.com/
- http://www.imare.in/Draft_Guidelines.pdf
Maritime Resources
Categories:- Engineering colleges in Mumbai
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