Yachting is not for the faint-hearted, as it involves several strokes of oars and lots of energy. Every sailor is requested to undergo a medical fitness test to reduce the possibility of experiencing medical complications at sea.
Let’s get into the details of the ENG1 medical certificate for yacht members.
What Is An ENG1 Medical Certificate?
The ENG1 report declares you fit to perform your obligations on a seafaring vessel by the medical standards set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a reputable authority in the maritime industry. These standards are designed to ensure the safety of all crew members and passengers on board.
Is It Necessary To Have An ENG1 Medical Certificate for The Yacht Crew?
As stated in the MLC, no person may work as a seafarer unless that person has been issued a medical fitness certificate, and the most recommended medical certificate is the ENG1.
All crew members must have STCW training and an ENG1 medical certificate or equivalent.
Features Of ENG1 Medical Certificate For Yacht
The ENG1 Medical assessment is a comprehensive check of your medical status, leaving no stone unturned. It’s designed to ensure that you are in the best possible health to carry out your duties at sea.
Validity: 2 years (1 year if below 18 years)
Conducted by: MCA-approved doctors
Cost: £115
Applicable to the following:
- a seafarer
- someone who is in charge of a yacht
- serving on a merchant yacht
- working on a fishing vessel in some situations
Get ENG1 medical certificate for yacht crew!
Do I Need An ML5 Or ENG1 Medical Certificate For The Yacht?
If they plan a career at sea, most people need an ENG1 and STCW basic safety training to become’ seafarers.’
The only condition in which you will be exempted from the ENG1 requirement is if you are going to work on a small commercial vessel that falls under the Area Category 2 to 6 (i.e., a vessel that will not be going more than 60 miles from a haven). In this case, you will only require the ML5 Certificate, which is a less comprehensive medical certificate.
Benefits of ENG1 Medical Certificate For Yacht Crew
Any person seeking to work on yachts most often requires an ENG1 medical fitness certificate or equivalent
Safety: Work on yachts may entail heavy tasks requiring physically demanding acts, working in dangerous environments, and an extended time of working on seas. The ENG1 medical certificate for yacht checks whether or not the individual can carry out their work safely.
International Maritime Regulations: In accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), everybody involved on board a yacht refers to a seafarer, and there are prescribed minimum requirements for training and certification of the seafarer.
Insurance and Liability: Some of the insurance policies that yachts usually take require their crews to have valid ENG1 medical certification for yacht. In case of an accident or injury on board, the ENG1 certificate shows that the crew member was medically okay when hired, which could help in future legal and liability matters.
Requirements for ENG1 Medical Certificate for Yacht
Before you book your ENG1 medical certificate for the yacht, remember to bring your passport, driver’s license, or student pass as a photo ID. You must also bring your GP’s name, address, and contact information. Also, bring your current ENG1 certificate if you have one. Lastly, don’t forget to take all your medicine prescriptions if you are taking and your glasses if you wear them. Once you have all these documents, you can book an appointment with an MCA-approved doctor for your ENG1 medical examination.
It remains relevant to know that the certificate is standard for the United Kingdom (UK only) and is accepted in many maritime regions. However, depending on the flag state or the country of operation, crew members may be required to take other special tests.
What Happens During The ENG1 Medical Examination?
After you have taken the essentials with you, it’s time to undergo the process. It is safe and painless and is conducted by an MCA-approved medical practitioner. A doctor or a practice nurse will ask you a few personal questions concerning your health status.
It usually takes 30-40 minutes, and if you pass the following examination, the certificate is issued immediately.
- Measurement of height and weight
- A standard eye and hearing test
- Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate
- Test for color blindness
- Ear and throat evaluations
- Urine sample test (for diabetes or kidney functioning)
- A standard reflex and hernia test
- Teeth and gum inspection
- Heart and lungs listening (you will be asked to remove your shirt)
- Medical history, drinking or smoking habits, diet intake, etc
Though the assessment is not something to dread, it might reveal a primary condition that will keep you from working on a yacht. For complex medical conditions requiring further examination, visit the table of standards in the Annex of MSN 1886 Amendment 2.
Results of ENG1 Medical Certificate For Yacht
After ENG1 medical seafarer examination, you will be provided with the following certificate:
- Fit without restrictions (unrestricted)
- Fit with restrictions (you are confined only to certain jobs or areas)
- Temporarily unfit for sea service
- Permanently unfit for sea service
What If I fail?
If you do not pass the ENG1 medical certificate for yacht, your fitness may be deemed unfit or your certificate may be restricted. In this case, the examiner will hand over an ENG3 Notice of Failure/Restriction, which may have implications for your ability to work in certain roles or areas on a yacht.
You can be issued a ‘temporarily unfit certificate’ if, for instance, the doctor is concerned about your fitness. They may need to obtain more information about your medical status from your doctor or consultation with an MCA chief medical officer.
If one is disqualified under the ‘permanently unfit’ category from obtaining the ENG1, one is barred from obtaining an ENG1 medical certificate for yacht for at least five years. In other words, the applicant will need to provide clinical records evidencing that the condition that led to this outcome has been successfully treated to advance in the application.
Conclusion
An ENG1 medical certificate for yacht employees proves your fitness and health status to enable you to perform the duties demanded by the yacht crew job. If you want to work as a deckhand or stewardess on a yacht, you must undergo an ENG1 medical examination test described above. Choosing Yachtiecareers for STCW basic training will get you an ENG1 MCA-approved or equivalent certificate. Fair winds and following seas!