The R.L. Institute of Nautical Sciences The R.L. Institute of Nautical Sciences (RLINS) is a premier Maritime Training Institution. It is promoted by Dr. R. Lakshmipathy, publisher of the leading Tamil daily, "DINAMALAR" and President of the Indian Languages Newspapers Association and pioneer in the field of vocational education. RLINS runs a four- year B.S. (Marine Engineering) as an off center campus of the renowned Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani. All courses are approved by the Directorate General of Shipping and the institute is certified by the Indian Register of Quality Systems. RLINS is centrally located in the temple city of Madurai, just 120 kms from the modern port of Tuticorin, and is connected by rail line to all parts of India. There are daily flights to Chennai. B.Sc. (Nautical Sciences) is a fully residential three-year programme designed to train Navigating Officers for merchant ships. Navigating Officers are responsible for the cargo carried, navigation, communication and other vital tasks on board. They get promoted, after examinations, to the rank of 2nd Officer, Chief Officer and Master (Captain) of the ships. On completion of the three-year course, the boys have to serve one year as cadets on board a ship. They are exempted from written examinations and also from the six months post sea courses. They appear directly for the Oral Examination. The training is quite intense and the boys end up with a B.Sc. degree, which enables them to undertake any post-graduation course like MBA or MS (Shipping Management), in case they do not wish to continue at sea. Three-and-a-half-month Pre-sea Deck Cadet course is a short intensive course that enables the boys to join as a Deck Cadet on board a ship. They have to undergo three years on board training (if only +2 but a year is exempted for graduate). On completion of on board training cadets have to undergo six months of post-sea class room training before taking a written examination conducted by the Directorate-General of Shipping. Thereafter, they are on a par with the B.Sc. (Nautical Sciences) boys, except they do not have a degree. While placement for on board training cannot be guaranteed, the institute ensures the boys obtain the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDS). Liaison officers have been appointed to assist successful candidates to obtain the post of Deck Cadets in various shipping Companies.