Medical fitness
Governing: STCW reg I/9; MCA MSN 1815 (M+F) Amendment 7 (2026). Builds on: L1.1. See also: ENG1 guide.
Two certificates, one standard
Both the UK ENG1 and the SAMSA seafarer medical are issued to the STCW medical standard. Under STCW regulation I/9 a seafarer medical certificate is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year for a seafarer under 18. The examinations cover eyesight, colour vision, hearing and general fitness; the detail of the ENG1 is in ENG1 guide.
The difference is recognition. The ENG1 is a UK certificate issued by MCA-approved doctors. A SAMSA medical is issued by SAMSA-approved practitioners in South Africa.
What MSN 1815 says
The MCA publishes a list of countries whose national seafarer medicals it accepts on UK ships in place of the ENG1. The current edition, checked for this course, is MSN 1815 (M+F) Amendment 7, published 13 August 2026. South Africa is on it, in the "rest of the world" group alongside Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and others.
Three conditions matter:
| Point | What the notice says |
|---|---|
| Validity | Must be a valid national seafarer medical from the listed country's system |
| Language | Expected to carry an English translation so restrictions can be read |
| Scope | Does not apply to people employed on non-commercial pleasure vessels |
That last line catches people out. MSN 1815 is about UK ships in the commercial sense. A privately used yacht is outside it; whether the owner's management company accepts your medical is then a matter of crewing policy.
CAUTION - Equivalence is not a guarantee of a job Listing in MSN 1815 means a SAMSA medical is acceptable on a UK ship. It does not oblige a management company, crew agency or captain on a Cayman or Marshall Islands yacht to accept it.
What the industry actually asks for
Crew agencies and job adverts ask for "ENG1" because it is the certificate everyone recognises. The practical options:
- Take a SAMSA medical first if you are doing your STCW at home and want a valid medical for local work or a first job. It is usually cheaper in rand.
- Take an ENG1 before you fly, from an MCA-approved doctor in South Africa, if the budget allows. The MCA's list of approved doctors overseas has included South African doctors, but it changes: its update log shows SA names added and removed in 2024, and the details were current as of 25 August 2026 when checked.
- Take the ENG1 in the hub if you have to. Antibes, Palma and Fort Lauderdale all have approved doctors.
Where the ENG1 is specifically named
Some processes name the ENG1 outright. The RYA's commercial endorsement guidance, for instance, asks for an ENG1 or an ML5 and does not mention foreign equivalents. If you are going to need a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster or powerboat certificate, plan on an ENG1 at some point.
TIP - Carry both Holding a valid SAMSA medical and an ENG1 costs two examinations every two years. For a crew member moving between SA charter work and international yachts, it removes an argument at the gangway.
Declaring conditions
Whatever certificate you hold, declare medical history honestly. A restriction written on the certificate is manageable; a concealed condition discovered mid-season ends a contract and can void insurance.