Section A-I/9 Medical standards

  1 Parties, when establishing standards of medical fitness for seafarers as required by regulation I/9, shall adhere to the minimum in-service eyesight standards set out in table A-I/9 and take into account the criteria for physical and medical fitness set out in paragraph 2. They should also take into account the guidance given in section B-I/9 of this Code and table B-I/9 regarding assessment of minimum physical abilities.

These standards may, to the extent determined by the Party without prejudice to the safety of the seafarers or the ship, differentiate between those persons seeking to start a career at sea and those seafarers already serving at sea and between different functions on board, bearing in mind the different duties of seafarers. They shall also take into account any impairment or disease that will limit the ability of the seafarer to effectively perform his/her duties during the validity period of the medical certificate.

  2 The standards of physical and medical fitness established by the Party shall ensure that seafarers satisfy the following criteria:

• .1 have the physical capability, taking into account paragraph 5 below, to fulfil all the requirements of the basic training as required by section A-VI/1, paragraph 2;

• .2 demonstrate adequate hearing and speech to communicate effectively and detect any audible alarms;

• .3 have no medical condition, disorder or impairment that will prevent the effective and safe conduct of their routine and emergency duties on board during the validity period of the medical certificate;

• .4 are not suffering from any medical condition 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

• .5 are not taking any medication that has side effects that will impair judgment, balance, or any other requirements for effective and safe performance of routine and emergency duties on board.

  3 Medical fitness examinations of seafarers shall be conducted by appropriately qualified and experienced medical practitioners recognized by the Party.

  4 Each Party shall establish provisions for recognizing medical practitioners. A register of recognized medical practitioners shall be maintained by the Party and made available to other Parties, companies and seafarers on request.

  5 Each Party shall provide guidance for the conduct of medical fitness examinations and issuing of medical certificates, taking into account provisions set out in section B-I/9 of this Code. Each Party shall determine the amount of discretion given to recognized medical practitioners on the application of the medical standards, bearing in mind the different duties of seafarers, except that there shall not be discretion with respect to the minimum eyesight standards for distance vision aided, near/immediate vision and colour vision in table A-I/9 for seafarers in the deck department required to undertake look-out duties. A Party may allow discretion on the application of these standards with regard to seafarers in the engine department, on the condition that seafarers’ combined vision fulfils the requirements set out in table A-I/9.

  6 Each Party shall establish processes and procedures to enable seafarers who, after examination, do not meet the medical fitness standards or have had a limitation imposed on their ability to work, in particular with respect to time, field of work or trading area, to have their case reviewed in line with that Party’s provisions for appeal.

  7 The medical certificate provided for in regulation I/9, paragraph 3 shall include the following information as a minimum:

• .1 Authorizing authority and the requirements under which the document is issued

• .2 Seafarer information

  • .2.1 Name: (Last, first, middle)

  • .2.2 Date of birth: (day/month/year)

  • .2.3 Gender: (Male/Female)

  • .2.4 Nationality

• .3 Declaration of the recognized medical practitioner

  • .3.1 Confirmation that identification documents were checked at the point of examination: Y/N

  • .3.2 Hearing meets the standards in section A-I/9: Y/N

  • .3.3 Unaided hearing satisfactory? Y/N

  • .3.4 Visual acuity meets standards in section A-I/9? Y/N

  • .3.5 Colour vision^footnote meets standards in section A-I/9? Y/N

    • .3.5.1 Date of last colour vision test.

  • .3.6 Fit for look-out duties? Y/N

  • .3.7 No limitations or restrictions on fitness? Y/N

    If “N”, specify limitations or restrictions.

  • .3.8 Is the seafarer free from any medical condition likely to be aggravated by service at sea or to render the seafarer unfit for such service or to endanger the health of other persons on board?: Y/N

  • .3.9 Date of examination: (day/month/year)

  • .3.10 Expiry date of certificate: (day/month/year)

• .4 Details of the issuing authority

  • .4.1 Official stamp (including name) of the issuing authority

  • .4.2 Signature of the authorized person

• .5 Seafarer’s signature – confirming that the seafarer has been informed of the content of the certificate and of the right to a review in accordance with paragraph 6 of section A-I/9

  8 Medical certificates shall be in the official language of the issuing country. If the language used is not English, the text shall include a translation into that language.