Entry & progression
Governing: STCW VI/4 and Table A-VI/4-2; MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1, sections 5.2-5.3; MGN 482 (M) Amendment 2. Builds on: Medical First Aid Onboard Ship (MFA).
Who needs it
MSN 1865 section 5.2 requires PMC, on top of MFA, from:
- candidates for Master or Chief Mate under STCW II/2; and
- anyone designated to take charge of medical care on board.
On the yacht route, the MSN 1858 Amendment 2 section 6.2 table lists Medical Care against Master (Yachts) <500 GT and <3000 GT and both unlimited yacht certificates, but not against Chief Mate (Yachts) <3000 GT, even though that is a II/2 certificate. Check with the MCA before relying on either reading. Section 6.12 repeats the five-year rule below. At management level, Table A-II/2 adds the competence to organise and manage the provision of medical care on board, including thorough knowledge of the medical guide, the medical section of the International Code of Signals and MFAG.
The five-year rule
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Person in charge of medical care on a UK ship holds PMC or Updated PMC issued within the preceding 5 years | MSN 1865 5.3; reg. 43(6) of the 2022 Regulations |
| Updated PMC is open to anyone who has completed a full course once, whenever that was | MSN 1865 5.3 |
| An MCA-recognised (not approved) PMC with an expiry date means doing the full course again | MSN 1865, footnote 7 |
| Refresher training at least every five years | MGN 482 A2 section 5.3 |
This is a role requirement. Your CoC may be valid while your PMC is too old for you to be in charge of medical care. Masters of yachts under other flags should check that administration's rule (MSN 1865 recommends it).
On the MNTB specification the full course is normally 35 hours over five days and the updating course 21 hours over three days.
The competences
| Competence | Covers |
|---|---|
| Provide medical care to the sick and injured while they remain on board | Head, spinal, ENT and eye injuries, bleeding, burns and frostbite, fractures, wounds and infection, pain relief, sewing and clamping, acute abdomen, minor surgery, dressings, nursing, diseases, alcohol and drug abuse, dental care, gynaecology and childbirth, rescued persons, death at sea, hygiene, disease prevention, records and regulations |
| Participate in co-ordinated schemes for medical assistance | Radio medical advice, evacuation including helicopter, co-operation with port health and out-patient care |
The criteria include a calm, confident and reassuring attitude, drug use in line with manufacturers' recommendations and accepted practice, and recognising changes in the patient's condition promptly.
Where you stand legally
MSN 1905 section 7.3: where a UK ship carries no doctor, section 53 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 makes the master responsible for any medical attention being given by the master or under the master's supervision by a person appointed for the purpose. The master also manages the medical stores and may delegate that to a trained crew member. The REG Yacht Code Annex J9 says the same for yachts.
So the PMC holder acts for the master, with TMAS behind them. You are not a doctor; you are the person who examines, records, calls, and carries out treatment on advice.
CAUTION — Dual-hatting On many yachts the master is also the only PMC holder. Train the chief officer too, because the master may be the patient, or on the bridge for the evacuation.
TIP — Keep a personal log Record medical incidents you handle. It keeps your skills honest between courses and helps the next updating course make sense.