Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Ernakulam Campus Life

Best institution for relaxation, nothing have to study Good playing ground with a great sports master

I enrolled in the Vessel Navigator course at CIFNET (Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training) with high hopes of gaining hands-on training, professional skills, and real maritime opportunities. Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely disappointing and feels like a complete scam. After completing the initial formalities, there was little to no proper follow-up. The most frustrating part is the lack of accountability and communication—especially when it comes to training . It has been over a year since CIFNET forwarded our names to FSI Goa for onboard training, yet no action has been taken. Repeated attempts to contact the concerned authorities have gone unanswered. It feels like the students are left in the dark, wasting valuable time and energy. Promises made during admission about job support and proper seafaring training remain unfulfilled. This is not just a failure in management—it’s a betrayal of the trust students and their families place in a government-run institution. I urge future aspirants to thoroughly research and think twice before enrolling. This course currently lacks transparency, structure, and real outcomes. CIFNET must take urgent steps to restore its credibility and ensure that students are not exploited or left stranded.

The Collage has one bachelor degree program and two trade courses. I joined for the nautical science degree. At least that was what i thought while joining ( later came to know that there is a difference ) Even though many seniors told me about the disadvantage of studying here i took all those at ease. "Find some other colleges to study for Nautical science or Fisheries science" this was every seniors advice. I will tell my experience in various subjects below. This is a common review and don't think that it's a personal opinion. Placements: There were no placements in our college. None of our seniors got placed in college placements . So most opted for higher studies; and few studied for competitive exams, bank po and Merchant navy as deck cadet. Some of them changed to another stream after completing this course. The institute is not bothered to look for any Placement. The institute just trains students just for the sake of their job, even if the students are not getting placed there is no issue. Placement cells are just for a formality. The administration doesn't have healthy and productive environment for any kind of placement assistance. The course Bfsc ns don't come directly under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) or Directorate General of Shipping( Not an approved maritime training institute reference : from the latest " list of Approved MTI "). This could be one of the reasons for such mistreatment of students academically. Because of this reason, one of our seniors who cleared icar entrance for post-graduation didn't get admission because this course was not ICAR recognized. If choosing Bfsc ns for Nautical Science then this course is an affordable option if the placement and the time duration of the course (Diploma in nautical science 1 yr, BSc Nautical Science 3 yr ) are not an issue. Please note that even students from proper maritime training institutes are not getting placed as deck cadets; This is largely due to flooding in the Maritime industry. If opting for fishing vessels the salary is not lucrative. Infrastructure: The infrastructure facilities of our college are good. Hostel facilities are Good. Only Boy's hostel is available. The canteen in our college is also good( but it is just for the UGC approval). There are a lot of infrastructure-related issues. The quality of labs is poor. The classrooms are good. There is a navigation simulator which is of good quality. Faculty: Instructors are qualified in their respective fields but have often seen that the instructors lack their ability to communicate with students. There is no industry exposure, practical based learning is lower even though there are good labs. The student to faculty ratio is very low. Campus life: There is no corporation with University regarding sports meet or youth festivals. Often collage doesn't allow me to participate. Don't expect any extracurricular activity support. Be ready for stunted extracurricular growth. NOTE : 🔹The eligibility criteria for applying a CDC - Continuous Discharge Certificate is 10th along with basic stcw courses not BFSC NS OR VNC OR MFC as per collage admission prospectus. Dont be deceived with these silly things. 🔹Eventually i got placed in the maritime industry after struggling a lot. But i feel that students from other maritime colleges have more preference because they studied pure nautical science, this is the case with my fellow classmates pursuing a career in the fisheries sector. I had to learn more subjects to compete with the students from Diploma in Nautical science. I hope that the institution will improve. 🔹To the students reading this : if taking admission always enquire about all the things mentioned here before joining. Better safe than sorry.

🚨🚨 Please note that the Vessel Navigator Course is not suitable for those aspiring to join the Merchant Navy, as it is designed exclusively for fishing vessels and boats. It is also not applicable for Kerala inland vessels. For foreign-going vessels, a General Purpose (GP) Rating is mandatory, or alternatively, a BSc in Nautical Science or a Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) is required. This course is relevant only for those aiming to become deep-sea fishermen. However, the Marine Fitter Course is a suitable option for those seeking to join the Merchant Navy. Exercise caution when selecting a course Prior to enrolling, I carefully reviewed all provided documentation and discovered that the program was solely a fishing vessel course. Concerned by this, I visited the office to seek detailed clarification. The staff reassured me that there was no need for concern, explaining that upon completing the Vessel Navigator Course (VNC), I would need to pass a competency exam to qualify for a position in the merchant navy. However, their guidance was inaccurate, Obtaining employment with this certificate is highly challenging, and its value is often underappreciated.so I advise caution.. ⚠️