UK SEAFARER MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

IN CONTEXT

Julie Carlton

Seafarer Safety and Health Manager

International Context

• ILO– Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention

1946 (ILO 73) – Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC)

• IMO: – Standards of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping 1978 (STCW)

ILO 73/MLC

ILO 73/MLC

• All seafarers - pre-condition of working at sea

• 2-year validity• Hearing, sight, colour vision• No disease

– aggravated by service at sea, or – likely to render seafarer unfit, or– endanger the health of other persons on board

ILO 73/MLC

• Seafarer means any person employed, engaged or working on a ship

• Assessment for the particular job • Restrictions can be placed on duties, area of

operation• Responsibility on seafarer and employer/

shipowner to comply with restrictions

STCW

• Primarily certificated seafarers

• Medical fitness certificates as pre-qualification for Certificate of Competency– 1st Issue – Revalidation

International standards

STCW Code A-I/9• physical capability for

basic training (which includes fire fighting and basic sea survival)

• adequate hearing and speech to communicate effectively and detect audible alarms

International standards• no medical condition

– to prevent the effective and safe conduct of their routine and emergency duties on board

– likely to be aggravated by service at sea or to render the seafarer unfit for such service or to endanger the health and safety of other persons on board; and

• no medication with side effects impairing effective and safe performance of routine and emergency duties on board.

ILO/WHO Guidelines 1997

• Guidelines for conducting pre-sea and periodic medical fitness examinations for seafarers– Guidance of competent authorities– Guidance for recognised medical practitioners– Minimum standards– Sample certificate

Guidelines on the medical examination of seafarers

IMO/ILO/JMS/2011/12

International standards

• Port State Control– Recognised format– Completed fully and

correctly– Risk of fraud/forgery

• Mutual recognition• Reducing

administrative burdens

Issues for MAT

• Increasing numbers of ENG1s– Who are they being issued to?

• New groups– Who is a seafarer?

• Demand for/from more approvals – What are the implications?

Review of AD system

• What is the system for?

• Who should have access?

• Should MCA recover costs?

• If so, how would this be done fairly.

• Do we need to change to take advantage of international developments?

Any questions