For a vessel to be operated safely, it is essential that the crew members be physically fit and free of debilitating illness and injury. The seafaring life is arduous, often hazardous, and the availability of medical assistance or treatment is generally minimal. As the international trend toward smaller crews continues, the ability of each crew member to perform his or her routine duties and respond to emergencies becomes even more critical.
All mariners should be capable of living and working in cramped spaces, frequently in adverse weather causing violent motion of the vessel. Extended workdays are common. All mariners must be able to participate in emergency evolutions such as firefighting or launching lifeboats or liferafts.
Members of the deck department must be capable of physical labor, climbing, and handling moderate weights (from 30-60 pounds).
These guidelines are to be used by physicians, physician assistants, and licensed nurse practitioners, in examining merchant seamen. It will also assist Coast Guard licensing personnel in evaluating an applicants eligibility based on the findings.
These guidelines are just thatguidelines. They are not intended to be absolute or all encompassing. Some individuals may have other medical conditions or physical limitations which would render them incompetent to perform their duties aboard a vessel. Others may be quite capable of working at sea without posing a risk to themselves, their ship, or shipmates even though one of the listed conditions exists. Any cause for rejection is disqualifying only while the condition persists or is likely to cause disqualifying complications.
While each applicant must be evaluated for their physical competence individually, the conditions described in this article are those which have been considered disqualifying by the medical and maritime communities.
Waivers may be considered where extenuating circumstances are such to warrant special consideration and it can be demonstrated that the applicant can perform safely the duties of the license or merchant mariner document. Requests for waivers will be submitted to the National Maritime Center (NMC-4C) by the REC for review and a final determination.
The guidelines apply to all merchant marine physical examinations and should be provided to medical personnel for use in conjunction with the physical examination form (CG-719K or equivalent).
__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
All mariners should be capable of living and working in cramped spaces, frequently in adverse weather causing violent motion of the vessel. Extended workdays are common. All mariners must be able to participate in emergency evolutions such as firefighting or launching lifeboats or liferafts.
Members of the deck department must be capable of physical labor, climbing, and handling moderate weights (from 30-60 pounds).
These guidelines are to be used by physicians, physician assistants, and licensed nurse practitioners, in examining merchant seamen. It will also assist Coast Guard licensing personnel in evaluating an applicants eligibility based on the findings.
These guidelines are just thatguidelines. They are not intended to be absolute or all encompassing. Some individuals may have other medical conditions or physical limitations which would render them incompetent to perform their duties aboard a vessel. Others may be quite capable of working at sea without posing a risk to themselves, their ship, or shipmates even though one of the listed conditions exists. Any cause for rejection is disqualifying only while the condition persists or is likely to cause disqualifying complications.
While each applicant must be evaluated for their physical competence individually, the conditions described in this article are those which have been considered disqualifying by the medical and maritime communities.
Waivers may be considered where extenuating circumstances are such to warrant special consideration and it can be demonstrated that the applicant can perform safely the duties of the license or merchant mariner document. Requests for waivers will be submitted to the National Maritime Center (NMC-4C) by the REC for review and a final determination.
The guidelines apply to all merchant marine physical examinations and should be provided to medical personnel for use in conjunction with the physical examination form (CG-719K or equivalent).
__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School