Introduction
Merchant Navy is one of the most specialized industries in the world. Like any technical field, maritime professionals use a vast number of abbreviations, acronyms, and full forms to communicate quickly and efficiently. Whether you are a student preparing for your GP Rating, DNS, GME, or ETO exams, or a seasoned seafarer, knowing these terms is essential.
Why abbreviations are used: They save time, ensure clarity in communication, and are standardized across the industry.
Importance during exams: Most written and oral exams test your knowledge of these abbreviations.
Importance onboard ships: Daily operations, safety drills, and navigation rely heavily on these terms.
Importance in interviews: Employers expect candidates to be familiar with common maritime abbreviations.
Tip: Bookmark this page – it will be your go-to reference for Merchant Navy full forms.
Common Merchant Navy Full Forms
| Abbreviation | Full Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| GP Rating | General Purpose Rating | Entry-level rank in Merchant Navy |
| MEK | Marine Engineering Knowledge | Basic engineering subject |
| GSK | General Seamanship Knowledge | Deck and navigation subject |
| CDC | Continuous Discharge Certificate | Seafarer's service record |
| INDOS | Indian Database of Seafarers | Unique ID for Indian seafarers |
| STCW | Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers | International training standards |
| DG Shipping | Directorate General of Shipping | India's maritime regulator |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization | UN agency for shipping |
| IMU | Indian Maritime University | Central maritime university |
| IMU CET | Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test | Entrance exam for IMU |
| ETO | Electro-Technical Officer | Officer for electrical systems |
| GME | Graduate Marine Engineering | 1-year engineering course |
| DNS | Diploma in Nautical Science | 1-year deck officer course |
| BSc NS | Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science | 3-year deck officer degree |
| BTech ME | Bachelor of Technology in Marine Engineering | 4-year engineering degree |
| AB | Able Seaman | Experienced deck rating |
| OS | Ordinary Seaman | Entry-level deck rating |
| OOW | Officer of the Watch | Watchkeeping officer |
| COC | Certificate of Competency | Licence for officers |
| COE | Certificate of Endorsement | Endorsement on COC |
| MMD | Mercantile Marine Department | Regional shipping office |
| RPSL | Recognised Organisations & Approved Institutes | DG Shipping approved bodies |
| PSSR | Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities | Basic STCW course |
| FPFF | Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting | Basic STCW course |
| PST | Personal Survival Techniques | Basic STCW course |
| EFA | Elementary First Aid | Basic STCW course |
| AFF | Advanced Fire Fighting | Advanced STCW course |
| BRM | Bridge Resource Management | Bridge team management |
| ERM | Engine Room Resource Management | Engine room team management |
| HELM | Human Element Leadership and Management | Leadership course |
Ship Departments Full Forms
- Deck Department: Responsible for navigation, watchkeeping, and cargo operations.
- Engine Department: Maintains and operates all machinery and systems.
- Galley: The ship's kitchen, managed by the Chief Cook.
- Steward Department: Responsible for catering, housekeeping, and hospitality.
- Electrical Department: Manages electrical and electronic systems (often part of engine).
- Bridge: The command centre for navigation and ship control.
- Accommodation: Living quarters for the crew.
Deck Department Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| OOW | Officer of the Watch |
| 3/O | Third Officer |
| 2/O | Second Officer |
| C/O | Chief Officer |
| CO | Commanding Officer / Captain |
| AB | Able Seaman |
| OS | Ordinary Seaman |
| Bosun | Boatswain (Senior deck rating) |
| Deck Cadet | Trainee deck officer |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| AIS | Automatic Identification System |
| ARPA | Automatic Radar Plotting Aid |
| ECDIS | Electronic Chart Display and Information System |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
| VHF | Very High Frequency (radio) |
| MF/HF | Medium Frequency / High Frequency |
| NAVTEX | Navigational Telex |
| EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
| SART | Search and Rescue Transponder |
| AIS-SART | AIS Search and Rescue Transponder |
| SSAS | Ship Security Alert System |
| BNWAS | Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
| COLREG | Collision Regulations |
Engine Department Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| ME | Main Engine |
| AE | Auxiliary Engine |
| FO | Fuel Oil |
| DO | Diesel Oil |
| LO | Lubricating Oil |
| MGO | Marine Gas Oil |
| HFO | Heavy Fuel Oil |
| MDO | Marine Diesel Oil |
| BHP | Brake Horsepower |
| RPM | Revolutions Per Minute |
| SFOC | Specific Fuel Oil Consumption |
| TC | Turbocharger |
| CPP | Controllable Pitch Propeller |
| FPP | Fixed Pitch Propeller |
| Governor | Speed control device |
| Crankshaft | Main engine shaft |
| Scavenge | Air intake process |
| Camshaft | Shaft with cams |
| Cylinder Liner | Engine cylinder sleeve |
| Pump | Device for moving fluids |
| Compressor | Device for compressing air |
| Purifier | Fuel oil purifier |
| Boiler | Steam generator |
| FW | Fresh Water |
| SW | Sea Water |
| LSA | Life Saving Appliances |
| FFA | Fire Fighting Appliances |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
Navigation Full Forms
- GPS: Global Positioning System
- AIS: Automatic Identification System
- ARPA: Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
- ECDIS: Electronic Chart Display and Information System
- GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
- Gyro: Gyrocompass
- Echo Sounder: Depth measuring device
- Magnetic Compass: Traditional compass
- Autopilot: Automatic steering system
- Radar: Radio Detection and Ranging
- NAVTEX: Navigational Telex
- DGPS: Differential Global Positioning System
- BNWAS: Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System
Safety Full Forms
- SOLAS: Safety of Life at Sea
- MARPOL: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
- ISM: International Safety Management
- ISPS: International Ship and Port Facility Security
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
- LSA: Life Saving Appliances
- FFA: Fire Fighting Appliances
- PSSR: Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
- FPFF: Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
- PST: Personal Survival Techniques
- EFA: Elementary First Aid
- MOB: Man Overboard
- Lifeboat: Emergency evacuation vessel
- Life Raft: Inflatable emergency raft
- Fire Pump: Fire-fighting water pump
- Fire Main: Fire water piping system
- Emergency Generator: Backup power supply
Marine Engineering Full Forms
- ME: Main Engine
- AE: Auxiliary Engine
- FO: Fuel Oil
- LO: Lubricating Oil
- MDO: Marine Diesel Oil
- MGO: Marine Gas Oil
- HFO: Heavy Fuel Oil
- TC: Turbocharger
- RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
- BHP: Brake Horsepower
- SFOC: Specific Fuel Oil Consumption
- CPP: Controllable Pitch Propeller
- FPP: Fixed Pitch Propeller
- Turbocharger: Exhaust gas driven compressor
- Governor: Speed regulator
- Crankshaft: Main rotating shaft
- Scavenge: Air charging process
- Camshaft: Valve timing shaft
- Cylinder Liner: Cylinder wall sleeve
International Maritime Organizations
- IMO: International Maritime Organization
- ILO: International Labour Organization
- IACS: International Association of Classification Societies
- BIMCO: Baltic and International Maritime Council
- INTERTANKO: International Association of Independent Tanker Owners
- INTERCARGO: International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners
- DG Shipping: Directorate General of Shipping (India)
- IMU: Indian Maritime University
- MMD: Mercantile Marine Department
Career Course Full Forms
- GP Rating: General Purpose Rating
- DNS: Diploma in Nautical Science
- ETO: Electro-Technical Officer
- GME: Graduate Marine Engineering
- BSc Nautical Science: Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science
- BTech Marine Engineering: Bachelor of Technology in Marine Engineering
- NCV: Near Coastal Voyage (Certificate)
- Deck Cadet: Trainee deck officer
- Engine Cadet: Trainee engineer
Certification Full Forms
- CDC: Continuous Discharge Certificate
- Passport: International travel document
- INDOS: Indian Database of Seafarers
- COC: Certificate of Competency
- COE: Certificate of Endorsement
- Watchkeeping Certificate: Certificate for watchkeeping duties
- Medical Certificate: Fitness certificate for seafarers
- STCW: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
- Yellow Fever: International Certificate of Vaccination
- Visa: Entry permit for foreign countries
- SID: Seafarer's Identity Document
Important Exam Full Forms
- IMU CET: Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test
- DG Shipping: Directorate General of Shipping
- Sponsorship: Company-sponsored training
- Psychometric Test: Aptitude and personality test
- Medical: Physical fitness examination
- Interview: Personal and technical interview
- MCQ: Multiple Choice Questions
- Oral: Viva voce examination
- Practical: Hands-on assessment
Quick Revision Table (A–Z)
| Abbr. | Full Form |
|---|---|
| AFF | Advanced Fire Fighting |
| AIS | Automatic Identification System |
| ARPA | Automatic Radar Plotting Aid |
| BHP | Brake Horsepower |
| BNWAS | Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System |
| BRM | Bridge Resource Management |
| CDC | Continuous Discharge Certificate |
| COC | Certificate of Competency |
| COE | Certificate of Endorsement |
| COLREG | Collision Regulations |
| CPP | Controllable Pitch Propeller |
| DG Shipping | Directorate General of Shipping |
| DNS | Diploma in Nautical Science |
| ECDIS | Electronic Chart Display and Information System |
| EFA | Elementary First Aid |
| EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
| ERM | Engine Room Resource Management |
| ETO | Electro-Technical Officer |
| FPFF | Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting |
| FPP | Fixed Pitch Propeller |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
| GME | Graduate Marine Engineering |
| GP Rating | General Purpose Rating |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GSK | General Seamanship Knowledge |
| HELM | Human Element Leadership and Management |
| HFO | Heavy Fuel Oil |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization |
| IMU | Indian Maritime University |
| IMU CET | Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test |
| INDOS | Indian Database of Seafarers |
| ISM | International Safety Management |
| ISPS | International Ship and Port Facility Security |
| LO | Lubricating Oil |
| LSA | Life Saving Appliances |
| MARPOL | Marine Pollution Convention |
| MDO | Marine Diesel Oil |
| ME | Main Engine |
| MEK | Marine Engineering Knowledge |
| MGO | Marine Gas Oil |
| MLC | Maritime Labour Convention |
| MMD | Mercantile Marine Department |
| MOB | Man Overboard |
| NAVTEX | Navigational Telex |
| OOW | Officer of the Watch |
| OS | Ordinary Seaman |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| PSSR | Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities |
| PST | Personal Survival Techniques |
| RPM | Revolutions Per Minute |
| SART | Search and Rescue Transponder |
| SFOC | Specific Fuel Oil Consumption |
| SOLAS | Safety of Life at Sea |
| SSAS | Ship Security Alert System |
| STCW | Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping |
| TC | Turbocharger |
| UNCLOS | United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea |
| VHF | Very High Frequency |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GP Rating full form?
GP Rating stands for General Purpose Rating. It is an entry-level rank in the Merchant Navy.
What is STCW full form?
STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
What is CDC?
CDC stands for Continuous Discharge Certificate. It is a seafarer's service record and identity document.
What is INDOS?
INDOS stands for Indian Database of Seafarers. It is a unique identification number for Indian seafarers.
What is GSK?
GSK stands for General Seamanship Knowledge. It is a subject covering deck duties, navigation, and safety.
What is MEK?
MEK stands for Marine Engineering Knowledge. It covers basic engineering concepts for seafarers.
What is IMO?
IMO stands for International Maritime Organization, a UN agency responsible for regulating shipping.
What is SOLAS?
SOLAS stands for Safety of Life at Sea, an international treaty for maritime safety.
What is MARPOL?
MARPOL stands for International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
What is AIS?
AIS stands for Automatic Identification System, used for ship tracking and collision avoidance.
What is ARPA?
ARPA stands for Automatic Radar Plotting Aid, used for radar-based collision avoidance.
What is GMDSS?
GMDSS stands for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, for emergency communication at sea.
What is ECDIS?
ECDIS stands for Electronic Chart Display and Information System, an electronic navigation system.
What is DG Shipping?
DG Shipping stands for Directorate General of Shipping, the regulatory body for shipping in India.
What is IMU?
IMU stands for Indian Maritime University, the central university for maritime education in India.
What is ETO?
ETO stands for Electro-Technical Officer, responsible for electrical and electronic systems on ships.
What is GME?
GME stands for Graduate Marine Engineering, a 1-year course for engineering graduates.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Diploma in Nautical Science, a 1-year course to become a Deck Officer.
What is ISM?
ISM stands for International Safety Management, a code for safe ship management.
What is ISPS?
ISPS stands for International Ship and Port Facility Security, a security code for ships and ports.
What is COLREG?
COLREG stands for International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
What is UNCLOS?
UNCLOS stands for United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
What is MLC?
MLC stands for Maritime Labour Convention, ensuring seafarers' rights and working conditions.
What is PSSR?
PSSR stands for Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, a basic STCW course.
What is FPFF?
FPFF stands for Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, a basic STCW course.
What is PST?
PST stands for Personal Survival Techniques, a basic STCW course.
What is EFA?
EFA stands for Elementary First Aid, a basic STCW course.
What is AFF?
AFF stands for Advanced Fire Fighting, an advanced STCW course for officers.
What is BRM?
BRM stands for Bridge Resource Management, a course for bridge team management.
What is ERM?
ERM stands for Engine Room Resource Management, a course for engine room team management.
What is HELM?
HELM stands for Human Element Leadership and Management, a course for maritime leadership.
Internal Links – More Resources
- What is GP Rating?
- What is STCW?
- How to Join Merchant Navy?
- MEK MCQ Set 1
- GSK MCQ Set 1
- MEK Oral Questions
- GSK Oral Questions
- Signal Flags Guide
- CDC Guide
- INDOS Guide
- DG Shipping Guide
Conclusion
Learning Merchant Navy abbreviations and full forms is not just about passing exams – it's about becoming a competent, confident seafarer. From your first day at a maritime institute to your last day at sea, these terms will be part of your daily life.
Final advice: Bookmark this page, revise regularly, and use these abbreviations in your conversations. The more familiar you are, the better you'll perform in exams, interviews, and onboard duties.
Keep learning, keep sailing – your maritime career starts here!