Medical Requirements for Merchant Navy: According to D.G Shipping
- Pre-sea Medical Examination : –Thorough physical examination including evaluation of all systems, visual acuity, colour vision, hearing,etc
| · Urea R/C | · Blood Group & Rh Factor |
| · BI CBC | · Test for Hepatitis B (Hbs Ag) |
| · BI ESR | · Audiometry |
| · RBS / FBS | · X-Ray Chest (PA) |
| · SGOT | · ECG |
| · SGPT | · Drug & Alcohol Screening |
| · SGGT | · Physical Examination |
| · S Creatinine | · Spirometry |
| · S Cholesterol | · Ultrasound (USG) of the Abdomen & Pelvis |
| · S Triglycerides | · Psychometric Evaluation or Psychological Evaluation |
| · BI VDRL | · Stress Test (Optional) |
| · HIV I & II | · 2D Echo Doppler Study |
Drug & Alcohol Screening : – Barbiturates, Amphetamines, Marijuana, Cannabinoids, Benzodiazepine, Alcohol (Optional
2) Periodic Medical Examination : – Thorough physical examination including evaluation of all systems, visual acuity, colour vision,hearing,etc
| · Urea R/C | · Blood Group & Rh Factor |
| · BI CBC | · Test for Hepatitis B (Hbs Ag) |
| · BI ESR | · Audiometry |
| · RBS / FBS | · X-Ray Chest (PA) |
| · SGOT | · ECG |
| · SGPT | · Drug & Alcohol Screening |
| · SGGT | · Spirometry |
| · S Creatinine | · Ultrasound (USG) of the Abdomen & Pelvis |
| · S Cholesterol | · Psychometric Evaluation or Psychological Evaluation |
| · S Triglycerides | · Stress Test (Optional) |
| · Stress Test (Optional) | · 2D Echo Doppler Study |
| · Physical Examination | · 2D Echo Doppler Study |
3) Vaccination under WHO or other country’s regulations:-
(i) Vaccination at the time of Pre-sea Training:-
- a) Yellow Fever: – At a WHO designated Yellow Fever Centre only. Booster once every 10 years.
- b) Hepatitis B: – Recommended a primary course of three doses.
Booster may be given once every 20 years. In cases of doubtful immunity, test for Anti HBS antibody titre shall be conducted to assess the suitability of administration of the vaccine.
- c) Typhoid: – Recommended inject able vaccination. Once every three years.
- d) Varicella Vaccination (Against Chicken Pox) : – Recommended primary course of two doses.
- e) Tetanus Toxoid : – Most of the pre-sea trainees would have received their tetanus prophylaxis during their childhood immunization. A tetanus toxoid injection shall be given at the time
of entry to the pre-sea training programme. A booster injection every 5 years is recommended.
- f) Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) : – One time, single booster dose of OPV, at the time of the entry to the pre-sea training course
(ii) Vaccination at the time of Periodic Medical Examination (for revalidation of CDC, etc.:-
The DG approved medical practitioner shall check the immunization record of the seafarer. In cases where the immunization has not been completed as given in the schedule above. The
same shall be completed by the DG approved Medical Examiner before handling over the medical examination report
Medical Standards
Indian seafarers are governed by Merchant Shipping (Medical Examinations) Rules, 2005 and also follow WHO/ILO guidelines. The guidelines now prescribed under MLC, 2006 have
also been considered and shall be followed. The rules are at present being amended to keep in line with MLC, 2006 requirements