Individuals who want to build a career in commercial shipping by taking examinations conducted by The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), London, can now do so in Mangalore. For the past three years, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has been a centre for the examinations. A person who clears the exams becomes a member of the ICS, an internationally recognised professional body representing shipbrokers, ship managers and agents. According to the ICS website, the papers are in subjects such as shipping, marine insurance, shipping law, finance and logistics, port management, liner trades, ship operations and management, economics of sea transport and international trade, and ship sale and purchase.
A person can belong to the ICS as a member in different categories.
He or she could be a Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (MICS), a Fellow of the Institute and an official Chartered Shipbroker (FICS), Retired (MICS or FICS with at least 25 consecutive years ICS membership), a Life Member (a branch nominee and Controlling Council approval Honorary Fellowship) or by invitation of the Controlling Council of the ICS.
The Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) are the highest of the ICS qualification.
Ramanathan Kumar, General Manager (GM), Infinity Shipping, who was promoted from branch manager after clearing the ICS exams, said that before Mangalore became a centre for the exam, it was difficult to write the exam. One would have to take leave for 15 to 20 days and go to another city to write the exam.
Passing the ICS examination is like taking the examinations for chartered accountants (CAs). “You qualify for it through examinations, not by paying,” he said. A person with ICS is preferred over one without the ICS qualification when it comes to a job. A 23-year-old holding an ICS is paid more at entry level than another with decades of experience, he said. John Prasad Menezes, co-ordinator for the examinations and the link between the ICS and Mangalore, said that the examination was a benchmark. He said that a person with a salary of Rs.7,000 to Rs.15,000 could get up to Rs.30,000 and more (depending on the type of company and candidate) after clearing the exams.
G.G. Mohandas Prabhu, former president, KCCI, who was examination coordinator, said that KCCI associated itself with the examinations as it wanted to help Mangaloreans qualify for a better future. “Once a person prepares and writes these exams, his career prospects are very bright in the shipping industry. The sky is the limit,” he said. A person can get jobs in foreign shipping companies in port cities in India and abroad.
Those with diplomas at entry level get Rs.8 to 10 lakh per annum, he said.
Mr. Shetty, invigilator for the exams, said that in April this year, 11 candidates appeared as against 14 last year. Those interested may see www.ics.org.uk or call 0824-2420128 (KCCI) for details.
