Medical fitness
Governing: CISN 01/2024 §3; MPM §16; CISR 504; IoM MLN 1.2 Rev 3; BSN 2022-007; GSF-01; Gibraltar Yachtmaster's Handbook §1.3. Builds on: the MCA library's medical course (ENG1).
The medical is not part of the endorsement, but they travel together, and a rejected medical stalls the application.
Recognition
| Flag | Accepted medical certificates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman | Issued by, or on behalf of, the Government of an STCW White List country or an MLC ratifier, per STCW I/9 | A certificate from a doctor merely resident in such a country is "insufficient"; must state the I/9 eyesight standard (CISN §3.3–3.4) |
| Isle of Man | Issued under MLC, STCW or ILO 73; for non-STCW crew, meeting STCW substance | Not sent with the endorsement application; checked during MLC inspections (MLN 1.2) |
| Bermuda | Closed country list (BSN 2022-007), plus company doctors approved by Bermuda or the MCA | UK on the list; USA and Marshall Islands are not; Maltese certificates only if the examination was in Malta by a Malta Medical Council doctor |
| BVI | MC 01/2024 refers to "Marine Circular 02-2024" | Not retrieved [unconfirmed] |
| Gibraltar | Issued by or on behalf of a Government the GMA recognises, under MLC, STCW, ILO 73 or STCW substance | GSF-01 also names White List or MLC-ratifier countries |
On the evidence available, an MCA ENG1 satisfies all five: the UK is an STCW White List and MLC state, and it is on Bermuda's list.
Validity rules
- Maximum validity: 2 years; 1 year under 18; colour vision 6 years (MLN 1.2; Gibraltar Handbook §1.3 for the 2- and 1-year figures).
- At application: at least 3 months left for Cayman (CISR 504) and Gibraltar (GSF-01).
- Expiry at sea: Cayman may permit work until the next port with a recognised practitioner, for no more than 3 months, if the seafarer holds the recently expired certificate (MPM §16). The IoM rule is the same.
- Joining on an expired medical (IoM): registry permission; expired no more than 1 month; examination at the next port; permission not more than 3 months (MLN 1.2).
WARNING — American crew on Bermuda yachts A US medical certificate is not on Bermuda's list. An American officer joining a Bermuda yacht usually needs an ENG1 or another listed certificate, whatever the US document is worth elsewhere.
CAUTION — "On behalf of the Government" For Cayman, the certificate itself should show the link to the national authority. A private clinic certificate without it can be refused.
TIP — Line up the dates Medical, CoC and endorsement expiries rarely coincide. A medical with ten weeks left will fail the three-month test at Cayman or Gibraltar even though it is valid today.