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Medical certificate

You need a medical certificate from a seafarer's doctor to work on a NOR/NIS vessel.

Approved seafarer's doctors

Find an approved seafarer's doctor

Map of seafarer's doctors in Norway

  • A medical certificate is a declatation by a seafarer's doctor that a person has been examined in accordance with the Health Regulations and found medically fit for service on board. 

    A medical certificate may be limited to a particular trade area, period of time, or service on board.

  • As a general rule, all persons performing work on NOR/NIS-registered vessels must hold a valid medical certificate. This also applies to trainees and cadets.

  • In principle, a medical certificate may be valid for up to two years, and for up to one year for persons under 18 years of age.

    If, for example, you have a medical condition that requires regular follow-up, the approved seafarer's doctor may issue a certificate with a shorter period of validity in order to ensure that any changes are detected.

    • Persons who work on board only when the vessel is in port
    • Persons who only carry out inspections on board
    • School pupils (unless they are to be placed on board for a minimum of three months)
    • Students 
    • Industrial Personnel (IP) who are only accommodated on the vessel
    • Passengers/guests

     

  • The original medical certificate (paper format) must be brought on board and kept by the master.

  • The company or the master shall demand a new medical certificate if it is likely that you no longer satisfy the regulatory health requirements.

    You shall without unjustified delay inform the master or the company and consult a seafarer's doctor if you have reasons to believe that you no longer satisfy the regulatory health requirements.

    The health requirements may have been changed if:

    • your health condition has changed significantly
    • you have changed position on board to a capacity for which there are stricter health requirements
    • you have been unfit for work for more than 30 days or have been admitted to hospital
    • you have started on new medication

    Consult the seafarer's doctor for consideration.

  • For all employees on NOR/NIS vessels, the following medical certificates are accepted:

     

     

     

  • The approved seafarer's doctor assesses whether your use of medication is compatible with work on board.

    The use of medication may be compatible with service at sea, but this depends on the type of medication, the dosage, and how the medication affects the individual's ability to carry out their duties safely.

    All employees found medically fit for service, and who use prescribed medication, must have a declaration from the seafarer's doctor regarding their medication use. The declaration must contain: 

    a. a specification of the name of the medication

    b. the prescribed dosage

    c. confirmation that the use of the medication is permitted during service on board the vessel

    The declaration must be taken on board. If the medication use changes, the seafarer's doctor must issue a new declaration. The documentation may be issued without carrying out a new medical examination.

     

  • If you receive a restricted medical certificate, you may apply for an exemption from the health requirements and/or appeal the decision made by the seafarer's doctor.

    Read more here.