Every company sponsoring the 2027 February intake, real fees and salary numbers, a full step-by-step prep roadmap, and 15 questions aspirants actually ask — written by working officers who’ve sat on the other side of the interview table.
18 min read | Written by working Merchant Navy officers | Updated for the 2027 cycle
Quick answer
To prepare for Merchant Navy February batch sponsorship, start 4–6 months before the October–January interview window: revise PCM basics and English for the written test, practice company-specific aptitude papers, prepare psychometric test patterns, do mock interviews, and keep your DG-standard medical (eyesight, no colour blindness) and documents ready in advance. Companies that commonly sponsor the February DNS intake include Anglo-Eastern (AEMA), Great Eastern (GEIMS), Seven Islands Shipping, Fleet Management, Synergy Marine Group, MSC Shipping, SCI, IMI Noida, and AMET University — the participating list changes every year, so confirm on each company’s official site before applying.
Reviewed by the Sailors Factory founding team. Sailors Factory is founder-led by working Merchant Navy officers who’ve been through the sponsorship process themselves and stay with students through their full journey — not a generic content team.
What’s in this guide
- What is the February batch
- Course duration & structure
- August vs February, compared
- Which one should you choose
- Companies sponsoring 2027
- Eligibility by PCM %
- Fees & costs
- Top institutes
- The full timeline
- Step-by-step roadmap
- Written test strategy
- Real questions by company
- Psychometric prep
- Interview prep
- Medical & documents
- Salary & career growth
- Advantages & challenges
- Mistakes to avoid
- How Sailors Factory helps
- FAQs
What is the DNS February batch?
The Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) is offered twice a year by DG Shipping-approved maritime institutes: an August batch and a February batch. Both lead to the same B.Sc. Nautical Science degree, the same 18-month sea cadetship, and the same career ladder from Deck Cadet to Captain. The syllabus, certification, and salary structure are identical — only the intake month, application window, and the list of companies sponsoring that cycle differ.
A common myth is that February is a consolation batch for students who missed August. In most cycles, Seven Islands, Great Eastern, SCI, IMI Noida, AMET, Fleet Management, and often Anglo-Eastern run a genuine February sponsorship round with real selections. Competition is usually lower simply because fewer students apply — not because the opportunity is smaller.
Course duration & structure
The training pathway is identical regardless of which batch you join.
- Pre-sea training — 1 year: Covers navigation, ship stability, cargo operations, maritime law, meteorology, marine communication, safety procedures, and simulator training at your institute.
- Onboard sea training — approximately 18 months: You join merchant vessels as a Deck Cadet and gain practical shipboard experience under a sponsoring company.
- Competency examinations: After completing the required sea service, you appear for competency exams and become eligible for the rank of Third Officer.
- Degree award: Successful completion earns your B.Sc. Nautical Science degree, with progression open through Second Officer, Chief Officer, and Captain.
August vs February batch, compared
| Factor | August batch | February batch |
| Application window | January – May | September – November |
| IMU-CET | Fresh attempt (May–June) | Previous valid score usually accepted |
| Sponsorship interviews | April – July | October – January |
| Companies participating | Higher number | Fewer, but genuine |
| Competition | Higher — fresh 12th pass-outs + droppers together | Lower — smaller applicant pool |
| Course start | August | February |
| Syllabus & certification | Identical | Identical |
| Salary & career progression | Identical — depends on rank, not batch | Identical — depends on rank, not batch |
Which one should you choose?
Choose August if:
- You want to start right after completing Class 12, with zero academic gap.
- You want the widest possible spread of participating companies.
- You’re comfortable with higher competition for more seats.
Choose February if:
- You need extra months to prepare for sponsorship exams properly.
- You missed the August window and don’t want to wait a full year.
- You didn’t clear sponsorship in August and want a second, less-crowded attempt.
- You already hold a valid IMU-CET score and don’t want to re-sit it.
Neither choice is “good” or “bad” — what matters is matching the batch to your own timing, preparedness, and sponsorship strategy.
Companies sponsoring the February 2027 batch
The exact list shifts every year, so confirm directly on each company’s site before applying. Based on past cycles, these have historically opened February DNS sponsorship forms:
- Anglo-Eastern (AEMA) — 65%+ PCM: Runs its own institute, Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy, with an excellent placement track record across a large global fleet. Selection includes a written test, psychometric test, and interview.
- Official site: angloeastern.com · Apply: AEMA DNS form
- Great Eastern Shipping (GEIMS) — 60%+ PCM: One of the largest intakes every cycle — also the batch where students in the 60–62% PCM range have historically made the merit list through strong written and interview performance.
- Official site · Apply: GEIMS admissions
- Seven Islands Shipping — 65%+ PCM: A consistent February-cycle sponsor with a strong reputation for cadet training quality, hiring through its own college (SISL–SIMTI) with a multi-stage selection process.
- Apply: SIMTI DNS form
- Fleet Management — 70%+ PCM: Strict on academics and age — best suited to fresh 12th pass-outs with strong, consistent scores.
- Official site: fleetship.com
- Synergy Marine Group — 65%+ PCM: Fast-growing ship management company offering modern, simulation-based training and global fleet exposure for cadets.
- Official site: synergymarinegroup.com
- MSC Shipping — 65%+ PCM: The world’s largest container shipping line by fleet size — a competitive but high-value sponsorship for deck cadets.
- Official site: msc.com
- Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) — 60%+ PCM: A government PSU — offers age relaxation and is known for a general-awareness-heavy interview stage alongside standard technical rounds.
- IMI Noida, AMET University, SIMS — 65%+ PCM: Institute-linked sponsorship routes with steady February-cycle intakes; check each institute’s specific tie-ups for the current year.
Sailors Factory tool: See the live Company Sponsorship Directory — a real-time list of every company and college currently open for forms, with a tap-through “More Info” card and direct apply links for each.
Eligibility by PCM percentage
Baseline eligibility for every company: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Maths, minimum 60% PCM aggregate and 50–60% in English (varies by company), age 17–25, and DG Shipping medical fitness standards.
Sailors Factory tool: Check your basic Merchant Navy eligibility first via our Eligibility Calculator — checking age, PCM%, and medical fit — before narrowing down to specific companies below.
| Your PCM % | Realistically open to you |
| 70% and above | Seven Islands, SCI, SIMS, Great Eastern, IMI Noida, AMET, Ganpat University, Fleet Management, Anglo-Eastern |
| 65–69% | Seven Islands, SCI, SIMS, Great Eastern, IMI Noida, AMET, Ganpat University |
| 60–64% | SCI, Great Eastern — the do-or-die zone; a strong written test and interview has taken students with 60–62% to the merit list |
| Below 60% | Very limited — consider the GPR (rating) route, or repeating 12th boards if your timeline allows |
Sailors Factory tool: Run your numbers through the Company Sponsorship Eligibility Calculator to get every open company ranked eligible-first by your exact PCM%, age, and board.
Fees & costs
DNS February batch course fees generally fall in a similar range to August, typically between ₹5.5 lakh and ₹9 lakh across the full course, depending on institute and facilities. This usually covers:
- Tuition fees
- Hostel accommodation
- Uniforms
- Simulator training
- STCW short courses
- Medical insurance
Where you have a genuine company sponsorship, many companies also provide a monthly stipend once onboard training begins — this varies by company and should be confirmed at the offer stage, not assumed.
Top institutes offering the February batch
| Institute | Commonly tied to |
| Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA) | Anglo-Eastern |
| GEIMS | Great Eastern Shipping |
| IMI Noida | Fleet Management & multiple companies |
| Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies (SIMS) | Anglo-Eastern group |
| Tolani Maritime Institute | Multiple sponsoring companies |
| HIMT | Multiple sponsoring companies |
| AMET University | Multiple sponsoring companies |
Seat availability for February intake varies by institute — confirm directly with the institute for the current cycle.
The complete February batch timeline
- September – November: Company sponsorship forms open. Apply to every company you’re eligible for — this is basic probability management, not a courtesy.
- October – January: Written tests, aptitude rounds, psychometric tests, and interviews run (schedule varies by company).
- Before interviews: Complete your DG Shipping-approved medical.
- After a sponsorship letter: Submit documents, confirm your IMU-CET score is accepted, and finish admission formalities.
- February: The course begins.
Step-by-step preparation roadmap
Start this 4–6 months before your target companies’ interview window.
1. Lock your target companies
Don’t prepare generically. Shortlist 4–6 companies based on your PCM% and location convenience, then prepare for their specific pattern.
2. Rebuild PCM and English fundamentals
Every written test draws from Class 11–12 Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English and General Aptitude. Study by weightage, not by reading everything equally.
3. Practice daily with real questions
Reading notes doesn’t build exam speed. Solve MCQs daily, under time pressure.
- Sailors Factory module: Practice with our Merchant Navy Quiz Hub — featuring spaced-repetition questions, a leaderboard, and shareable achievement cards to stay consistent.
4. Practice company-specific past papers
Anglo-Eastern leans technical-aptitude heavy. Synergy weighs English and reasoning. SCI, being a PSU, tests general awareness more. The pattern matters more than generic prep in the final stretch — see real questions asked by company below.
5. Start psychometric practice early
Psychometric tests are pattern-based, not intelligence tests. Familiarity is the entire game — don’t leave it for the week before your interview.
- Sailors Factory module: Take our Free Psychometric Test, built from a genuine 1,200+ question bank with weak-area feedback.
6. Interview and communication prep
This is where 60–65% PCM candidates actually win their seat — panels choose confident, clear communicators over marginally higher-scoring but nervous ones.
- Sailors Factory module: Be a Phoenix runs on our internal SCOPE framework and includes unlimited mock interviews with real Merchant Navy officers.
7. Medical and documents, done early
Don’t leave your medical for after shortlisting. A DG-standard eyesight or colour-vision issue discovered late can cost you a sponsorship after you’ve cleared every other round.
- Sailors Factory tool: Use our Colour Blindness Test and check in with Sailors Factory Support for document guidance.
Subject-wise written test strategy
- Physics & Maths: Class 11–12 NCERT level. Mechanics, optics, algebra, trigonometry and basic calculus repeat most.
- Chemistry: Physical and basic organic chemistry; rarely goes deep into advanced organic.
- English: Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, error-spotting. Weighted heavily since communication is core to the job.
- Aptitude & Reasoning: Number series, blood relations, coding-decoding, direction sense. Practice speed over depth.
- General knowledge / maritime awareness: Even where the written section is light on this, don’t skip it for the interview round.
Real questions asked by company
Every company’s panel has its own personality. Below is a small sample from our growing archive of real past written-test and interview questions, organised by company — enough to show you what “company-specific prep” actually means in practice.
MAERSK
- General: State Ohm’s law. State Boyle’s law and Charles’s law.
- General studies: Draw a map of India and mark the seven sister states, neighbouring countries, and surrounding water bodies.
- General studies: What is the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, the English Channel, and the Strait of Gibraltar?
- General studies: A new port was recently constructed in India — why was it built?
MSC
- General: What is International Maritime Day? Explain GMT and how Indian time relates to it.
- General: Explain RADAR and how a ship is located via satellite.
- General: “Your PCM percentage is below our eligibility criteria — why did you still come for this interview?”
SIMS
- Aptitude: A class has 70 students, 70% of whom are boys. How many girls are in the class?
- Aptitude: A car is moving at 60 km/h. What happens if the driver brakes suddenly?
Great Eastern
- Non-technical: Introduce yourself. Why Merchant Navy?
- Non-technical: Tell me about your family background.
- Non-technical: “You have good PCM marks — why not attempt other competitive exams instead?”
Fleet Management
- Non-technical: Tell us about your parents. What types of ships do you know, and which would you like to join?
- Non-technical: What duties does a deck cadet perform, and how many hours a day do you think a cadet works?
Seven Islands
- Mathematics: A circle is inscribed in an equilateral triangle of perimeter 3 m. Find the radius of the circle.
- General studies: Discuss recent incidents involving Baltimore, the Red Sea, and Somalia.
- General studies: Name five ports in Australia. Which is the world’s busiest port?
V-Ships
- Non-technical: Why did you score less in Class 12? What do you expect from this job?
- Non-technical: When did you first learn about Merchant Navy as a career? (Your father’s profession is often a cross-question follow-up.)
(Coming soon: We’re building a full searchable company-wise question bank from our archive — join the WhatsApp community to get it the day it launches.)
Psychometric test preparation
Psychometric tests assess consistency, discipline, emotional stability and decision-making under pressure — not IQ. The biggest mistake is treating this section casually. Practice under a real 60-minute timer, review your weak trait areas honestly, and repeat until your responses are consistent — inconsistent answers get flagged automatically by most scoring systems.
Interview preparation
Prepare clear, honest answers to “Why Merchant Navy?”, “Why this company?”, basic maritime awareness, and situational/teamwork questions. Confidence and clarity consistently beat marginally better academics in February batch interviews, where panels are looking for cadets who’ll represent the company well on international crews.
Sailors Factory tool: Build a recruiter-ready resume before your interview using the Cadet Resume Builder App — three fresher-focused templates, no login, downloads straight to PDF.
(Video walkthrough: Embed your own Sailors Factory YouTube video here — mock interview breakdown or Feb batch strategy session — video results rank prominently alongside these article results, so this is worth producing separately and embedding via a responsive iframe.)
Medical fitness & documents
Medical fitness checklist
- 6/6 eyesight, or correctable to 6/6 — confirm the specific company’s policy
- No colour blindness (Ishihara test, DG Shipping-approved doctor)
- Normal hearing
- General physical fitness, no disqualifying BMI extremes
- No history of conditions on the DG Shipping medical exclusion list
Documents to keep ready
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and passing certificates
- Valid IMU-CET scorecard
- Passport, or application receipt if in process
- Migration certificate
- Medical fitness certificate
- Passport-size photographs in each company’s required format
- Character certificate / NCC certificate, if you have one
Salary & career growth
Salary and career progression are identical for August and February batch cadets — they depend on rank, company, and vessel type, not on which batch you joined.
| Rank | Approx. monthly salary (USD) |
| Deck Cadet | $300 – $800 |
| Third Officer | $3,000 – $5,500 |
| Second Officer | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Chief Officer | $10,000 – $16,000 |
| Captain | $18,000 – $25,000+ |
Career path: Deck Cadet → Third Officer → Second Officer → Chief Officer → Captain, with each step gated by sea time and competency exams — not by which intake month you started in.
Sailors Factory tool: Run the Merchant Navy Salary Calculator for a projection built around your exact track (Deck, Engine, ETO, or Rating), ship type, employer, and promotion pace — not just the flat ranges above.
Advantages & challenges of the February batch
Advantages
- A genuine second admission opportunity without waiting a full year.
- No re-sit of IMU-CET needed in most cases.
- Same certification, career progression, and salary potential as August.
- Lower competition per seat.
Challenges
- Fewer companies participate compared to August.
- Success still depends on strong written, psychometric, and interview performance — lower competition isn’t a guarantee.
- Tighter timeline between form release (Sept–Nov) and interviews (Oct–Jan) to prepare in.
Five mistakes that get February batch candidates rejected
- ✕ Applying to only one company. Apply to every company you’re eligible for — that’s basic probability management, not a nice-to-have.
- ✕ Skipping English prep because “PCM is strong.” Communication failures sink otherwise-strong candidates at interview stage constantly.
- ✕ Leaving the medical for last. A late colour-blindness or eyesight discovery can undo months of exam prep.
- ✕ Treating psychometric tests as a formality. Inconsistent, rushed answers get flagged.
- ✕ Generic prep, zero company-specific practice. Pattern differences matter enough to decide a close selection.
How Sailors Factory helps you crack February batch sponsorship
Sailors Factory is built by Merchant Navy officers, not a generic coaching brand — we stay with students through the whole journey, not just exam day. Free tools you can start using today:
- Rise Mode: Weightage-based topic priority & goal tracking.
- Daily Practice Quiz: Spaced-repetition MCQs with a leaderboard via our Quiz Hub.
- Real Company Questions: Sample interview & written-test questions by company, above.
- Psychometric Test: Full-scale, weak-area feedback via our Psychometric Test Module.
- Ishihara Test: Free colour blindness pre-check via our Colour Blindness Test.
- Company Sponsorship Directory: Live open/closed status + eligibility calculator via Company Sponsorship Page.
- Cadet Resume Builder: Recruiter-ready resume, three templates, free PDF via Resume Builder App.
- Salary Calculator: Rank-by-rank earnings projection by track via Salary Calculator.
- Document Checklist: Track what’s ready, company by company.
For candidates who want full end-to-end mentorship, not just tools, Be a Phoenix is our premium module built on the internal SCOPE framework — covering the entire journey from prep to sponsorship to onboarding, with unlimited mock interviews included.
Frequently asked questions
Start with PCM and English fundamentals, move to company-specific written test practice, prepare psychometric test patterns, do mock interviews, and complete your DG-standard medical early — ideally starting 4–6 months before your target company’s interview window.
What are the sponsorship opportunities for the DNS February batch?
Companies that have historically sponsored the February DNS intake include Anglo-Eastern (AEMA), Great Eastern (GEIMS), Seven Islands Shipping, Fleet Management, Synergy Marine Group, MSC Shipping, SCI, IMI Noida, and AMET University. The exact list varies each year, so confirm current openings before applying.
As soon as you’re eligible: 10+2 with PCM, 60% aggregate, and age 17–25. If you miss the August intake or want extra preparation time, the February batch is a genuine second opportunity in the same academic year, not a lesser one.
Major sponsoring companies include Anglo-Eastern, Synergy Marine Group, Fleet Management, Great Eastern Shipping, MSC, SCI, Seven Islands Shipping, BSM, V Ships, Scorpio Tankers, TORM Tankers, and Wallem Ship Management, each running its own selection cycle and eligibility criteria.
Is the February batch harder or easier than August?
Neither — the syllabus and standards are identical. Competition is generally lower in February simply because fewer students apply, which can work in your favour if you prepare seriously.
Do I need to give IMU-CET again for the February batch?
Usually no — most institutes accept a valid IMU-CET score from the previous exam cycle for February admissions. Confirm this with your specific target institute.
What is the fee for DNS February batch?
Course fees generally range between ₹5.5 lakh and ₹9 lakh across the full course, covering tuition, hostel, uniforms, simulator training, STCW courses, and medical insurance — the exact figure depends on the institute.
What is the salary after DNS?
A Deck Cadet typically earns $300–$800 a month, rising to $3,000–$5,500 as Third Officer, $5,000–$8,000 as Second Officer, $10,000–$16,000 as Chief Officer, and $18,000–$25,000+ as Captain — salary depends on rank and company, not batch month.
Can I get a good company through the February batch?
Yes. Anglo-Eastern, Great Eastern, Seven Islands, Fleet Management, Synergy, MSC, and SCI have all historically selected genuine cadets through February cycles — it’s a real opportunity, not a lesser one.
What if I don’t get sponsorship in February batch?
You still have the August cycle ahead of you, and the preparation you’ve already done — written test practice, psychometric familiarity, and interview experience — carries forward and makes your next attempt stronger.
Is DNS February batch worth it?
Yes. It offers the same training, certification, salary, and career opportunities as the August batch, with a genuine chance to start sooner if you’ve already missed the August window or need extra preparation time.
How many months before should I start preparing for February batch sponsorship?
4 to 6 months, ideally starting around the time forms open in September, so your written test, psychometric, and interview preparation are all in place before the October–January selection window.
What kind of questions do companies actually ask in DNS sponsorship interviews?
It varies by company: MAERSK and MSC lean into general studies and basic physics; SIMS and Seven Islands mix in aptitude and maths; Great Eastern, Fleet Management, and V-Ships focus heavily on non-technical, personal-background questions like “why Merchant Navy” and family background. See our sample questions by company above.
Company sponsorship windows, eligibility criteria, and stipend and fee figures change every cycle — always verify current details on the company’s official site before applying.
Don’t prepare for this alone
Join the free Sailors Factory community for daily updates on which companies have opened their February 2027 forms, and where the cut-offs are landing.
