What should I bring?
What kind of certificate is the Medical Certificate Maritime?
Seafarers in restricted, unrestricted and inland navigation, safety crew or not. Period of validity is normally 2 years (4 years for inland navigation).
Inland navigation means navigation up to one nautical mile from a place where the vessel can find shelter, as well as navigation in the Sound of Kalmar and national navigation in the Sound of Öresund. With limited speed you can sail down to Brest in France and with unlimited speed you can sail all over the world. It is a general health examination with a special focus on vision and hearing.
The medical requirements increase the wider the area you wish to sail, but there are no strict limits. For an otherwise healthy person, the main difference between unrestricted and restricted speed is the increased focus on Tuberculosis.
The Swedish Transport Agency recommends that all seafarers who wish to sail unrestricted should be vaccinated against tuberculosis.
We are affiliated with the Seafarers' Web and will of course issue certificates in accordance with STCW Manila.
We are proud to cooperate with the Archipelago Rescuers, for safer and healthier shipping.
What does it mean that the Medical Certificate complies with STCW Manila?
In 2010, IMO (International Maritime Organization) delegates from around the world agreed on a new version of the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers). The conference was held in Manila, Philippines and is therefore called STCW Manila. The new system has been gradually phased in and will be fully implemented by 1 January 2017.
There are three different levels of where you can operate: inland waterway, restricted waterway and unrestricted waterway. This stands for coastal, the North Sea as far as the city of Brest in France and the rest of the world. The main difference for which authorisation you can apply for is whether you have been vaccinated against tuberculosis. This also included new guidelines for medical certificates.
For greater security, the Department of Transport has chosen to introduce electronic registration of all so-called Manila certificates. This is done via their Seafarers' Web. Even if the authority has your latest certificate electronically, you still need to have a physical copy with you at all times as well.
What are the medical requirements for the lake?
Infectious diseases: Infectious diseases that are classified as socially dangerous diseases in the Infectious Diseases Act are usually an obstacle to sea service in the infectious stage. These include tuberculosis, certain sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis A-E, HIV. If the infectious disease has been treated and the level of contagion is low, sea duty may be considered. This should be considered by a doctor, preferably in consultation with the patient's treating physician or, where appropriate, with an infection control physician. HIV infection is not normally a barrier to sea duty, provided that the patient lives in such a way that other people are not exposed to the risk of infection. It is important that everyone travelling abroad has a good knowledge of high-risk areas for HIV/AIDS, routes of infection, risk behaviour, prevention, etc. In the context of the home medical examination, the doctor should inform the seafarer of this and offer or encourage HIV testing if there is a risk of transmitted infection and inform the seafarer of the risks and protective measures associated with HIV infection.
Diabetes is in many cases an obstacle to service. However, an already professional seafarer who has contracted diabetes may be admitted to remain in the profession if the disease is under good control. Insulin-intensive cases and cases with severe vascular complications mean that the seafarer should generally not serve at sea at unlimited speed.
Cardiovascular disease: Bladder noise, high blood pressure, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are some of the cardiovascular diseases that can give rise to limitations on the medical certificate taking into account the sailor's duties, speed ranges and/or validity period. Sailors who have had a heart attack or stroke are deemed to be able to perform all tasks with hesitation at unlimited speed and within the specified position.
Thyroid: More serious endocrine diseases, such as manifest hyperthyreosis (increased activity in the thyroid gland), can be an obstacle to sea service. However, a treated and well-set hypothyreosis (too low activity in the thyroid gland) does not constitute an obstacle.
Skin diseases and eczema may give rise to limitations on the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, areas of speed and/or validity. Special attention should be paid to skin diseases that can be exacerbated by excessive sun irradiation, contact with salt water, oils, solvents or the like. Psoriasis of a milder nature and without signs of general impact usually does not perform obstacles to service at unlimited speed. For seafarers working in food and restaurants, recurrent skin diseases can be a permanent obstacle to service.
Gastrointestinal disease: Ulcers, hernias, intestinal catarrh, colitis, bowel pockets, hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas, liver cirrhosis, bile duct diseases, pancreatitis and stoma and are examples of diseases that may give rise to limitations of the medical certificate taking into account the duties, speed ranges and/or time of the seafarer. Sailors who have had liver cirrhosis are deemed to be able to perform all tasks with hesitation at unlimited speed and within the specified position.
Mental disorders: Mental illnesses with psychotic symptomatology as well as severe forms of neurosis usually hinder sea service. In the case of a disease, in many cases, service can only be considered in a particular position and/or only at a limited rate. Other diseases, such as serious mental disorders of a crew member, can also pose a danger. A seafarer who, in the opinion of a doctor, has an ongoing abuse of alcohol or drugs shall not be considered suitable for seagoing duty.
The motion device: Osteoarthritis, recurrent shoulder and knee instability, back pain and prosthesis are examples of problems which in some cases may result in limitations on the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, speed range and/or period of validity.
Urinary tract: Urogenital disorders such as renal inflammation, kidney or urinary stones, prostate enlargement, urinary tract obstruction, gynaecological disorders or dysfunctional kidneys may in some cases restrict the medical certificate taking into account the sailor's duties, scope and/or validity.
Blood: Anemia, splenoctomy, other blood diseases or blood-forming organs may in some cases restrict the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, scope and/or period of validity.
Neurology: Epilepsy, migraines, narcolepsy, MS and Parkinson's are examples of disorders that in some cases may result in limitations on the medical certificate taking into account the sailor's duties, speed range and/or validity period.
Head injury: Residual conditions after severe head or brain injury (may also include a blood clot) may constitute an obstacle to service.
Airways & Lungs: Problems with nose, throat and sinuses, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and pneumothorax are examples of respiratory and lung diseases that may cause limitations to the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, speed areas and/or time. Allergy may also in some cases be the cause of restrictions on the medical certificate. Seafarers who have had chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema are deemed to be able to perform all tasks with hesitation at unlimited speed and within the specified position.
Vision & hearing: The seafarer must meet the prescribed visual and hearing requirements in order to serve. In the case of eye and ear disease, it may be necessary to limit the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, area of speed and/or period of validity.
In some cases, tumour diseases may restrict the medical certificate taking into account the seafarer's duties, scope and/or period of validity.
Overweight can cause obstacles to service where an individual assessment needs to be made in terms of the seafarer's health, the duties in the position and the speed range. Physical health can be of importance as in many positions there is lifting, the need to walk stairs, work in confined spaces, long periods of work standing and/or walking. BMI is calculated automatically and may indicate overweight, but there are no BMI limits.