Saloon Rating India: Cook, Steward & Messman Career Guide 2026

Saloon Rating is the most underrated and least talked-about entry point into Indian merchant navy — and yet it’s one of the most accessible, better-paying options for 10th pass candidates who don’t want to go the GP Rating route.

Here’s the complete, honest guide.

What Is Saloon Rating?

Saloon Rating covers the catering and hospitality department on merchant vessels. Three main roles:

Cook (Ship’s Cook): The most senior and best-paid Saloon Rating position. Responsible for planning menus, preparing all meals for crew, managing food stores and provisions, maintaining galley hygiene, and ensuring dietary needs are met. On larger vessels, the Cook has full authority over the galley.

Steward (Steward/Cabin Steward): Serves meals to officers, cleans officer cabins and accommodation areas, maintains mess rooms, launders officer uniforms, and assists the Cook during meal preparation. On some ships, combined Cook-Steward role.

Messman (General Messman): Entry-level catering position — assists Cook and Steward, cleans common areas, serves crew meals, general galley support work. Most cadets start here before moving to Steward or Cook.

The CCMC Course

CCMC = Certificate Course in Maritime Catering

This is the DG Shipping approved pre-sea course for Saloon Rating.

• Eligibility: 10th pass in any stream (English must be included)
• Age: 17–25 years
• Duration: 6 months residential
• Medical: Standard DG Shipping medical fitness (colour vision not critical for catering)
• Cost: ₹40,000–1.2 lakh depending on institute

What you learn:

• International and Indian cuisine preparation for ship quantities
• Food safety and hygiene (HACCP standards)
• Mess room etiquette and service standards
• Ship provisioning and stores management
• Basic STCW safety courses (included)
• English communication for multicultural crew

At the end, you receive: CCMC Certificate + CDC + Basic Safety Training certificates.

Salary: What Saloon Ratings Actually Earn

Position	Experience	Monthly (INR)	Notes
Messman/Trainee Steward	First contract	₹30,000–50,000	Indian flag vessels
Steward	1–3 years	₹50,000–80,000
Ship’s Cook	3–5 years	₹80,000–1.2 lakh	Significant jump
Experienced Cook (foreign flag)	5+ years	$800–1,400/month	₹65,000–1.2 lakh
Chief Cook (large vessel)	Senior	$1,200–1,800/month	₹1–1.5 lakh+

Important: On foreign-flag vessels, experienced Ship’s Cooks earn well above Indian government job equivalents — tax-free.

Career Progression

Messman/Trainee → Steward → Cook → Chief Cook (on large vessels)

Unlike deck/engine departments, the catering department has no “officer” rank per se. But senior Cook on a large vessel is a respected, well-compensated position with significant autonomy.

Can you become an officer from Saloon Rating? This path doesn’t exist directly — Saloon Rating is a separate department. Switching to deck/engine officer track requires starting fresh with a qualifying examination.

Which Companies Hire Saloon Ratings?

Saloon Ratings are needed on every vessel with a crew mess. High demand sectors:

• Bulk carriers and tankers: Smaller crew but consistent need for catering crew
• Container ships: Regular 2–3 catering crew
• Cruise ships: Massive demand — but cruise ship catering is a separate, higher-skill track (see separate article)
• Offshore support vessels: Strong demand, sometimes better pay

Indian manning agents regularly recruit Cooks and Stewards. Platforms like Seafarers.com, Martide, and direct contact with manning agencies work well.

Is Saloon Rating Worth It?

Yes, if:

• You have genuine interest in cooking/hospitality
• You don’t have PCM in 12th (can’t do officer track without it)
• You need to join quickly with 10th qualification
• You enjoy food preparation and service work

Not ideal if:

• You want officer rank eventually (choose GP Rating or officer track instead)
• You hate kitchen work but think it’s an easy way in

The biggest mistake is joining Saloon Rating thinking it will be a stepping stone to deck officer. It won’t — the paths are different.

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Questions about CCMC course or Saloon Rating career? Ask SailorGPT — honest guidance on every entry path into Indian merchant navy.