Physical evaluation guidelines for merchant mariner’s documents and licenses

[MarinersSchool]

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 applicant’s eligibility based on the findings.

These guidelines are just that—guidelines. 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).
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Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School

 

[MarinersSchool]

The applicant must have vision correctable to 20/40 in each eye.

In all cases, the uncorrected vision should be at least 20/800. A vision waiver may be granted if the applicant’s corrected vision in the better eye is at least 20/40.

Waivers will not be granted where any disease or condition exists that would cause progressive or degenerative visual acuity beyond the standards for a waiver.

The applicant must have 100 degrees horizontal field of vision.

All applicants with diabetes must submit documentation from their doctor that the diabetes is not affecting their eye sight.

Applicants who are completely sightless in one eye can also be approved to receive a Deck License if they can document that their depth perception and peripheral vision are not adversely affected by their condition.
__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School

 

[MarinersSchool]

The applicant must have the ability to recognize basic colors in order to recognize color-coded indicator lights, diagrams, piping systems, valves and wiring. Deck officers must also be able to recognize colored lights that are used on aids to navigation, such as navigation lights on vessels.

HOWEVER, in the event that you are color blind or color deficient the Coast Guard will grant a waiver which will permit you to have your Captain's License issued. With the limitation that you will be restricted from operating a vessel commercially from sundown to sunrise. So for all of you who believe you cannot get your license because you are color blind... This is no longer a valid reason not to move forward!!!

Satisfactory completion of any of the following methods is acceptable proof of color sense:

• Pseudoisochromtic Plates (Dvorine, 2nd Edition: AOC: revised edition or AOC-HRR; Ishihara 16-, 24-,or 38 plate editions)
• Eldridge Green Color Perception Lantern
• Farnsworth Lantern
• Keystone Orthoscope
• Keystone Telebinocular
• SAMCTT (School of Aviation Medicine Color Threshold Tester)
• Titmus Optical Vision Tester
• Williams Lantern

__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School

 

[MarinersSchool]

In the case of an applicant with loss of sight in one eye, medical information indicates that depth perception may be affected. The degree of loss or lack of depth perception varies among individuals. The degree of variability is affected by the length of time that the applicant has been sightless in the eye and by the applicant’s ability to compensate. Applicants must be evaluated individually to determine that they adequately compensate for their lack of vision and that they can safely work in the maritime environment. Such applicants shall provide letters of recommendation from former employers or co-workers attesting to their ability to perform duties similar to the duties required by the license or document sought. In cases where an applicant is unable to provide such documentation, for example, where loss of sight has recently occurred, a waiver may be based on a thorough medical report from an ophthalmologist. This report must substantiate that the applicant has compensated for the loss of depth perception and peripheral vision. All cases involving monocular vision must be forwarded to the National Maritime Center (NMC-4C) for resolution.

Persons requiring the use of glasses or contact lens to perform duties will be required to have a spare pair conveniently available on board the ship. Any need to wear visual aids to meet the required standards will be recorded on each license or document issued.
__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School

 

[MarinersSchool]

Hearing thresholds are checked at 500 Hertz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 3000 Hz. The frequency responses for each ear are averaged to give a measure of hearing ability.

ORIGINAL DECK OFFICER LICENSES: An average, unaided hearing threshold of 70 db or less for each ear and functional speech discrimination of at least 90% is acceptable.

RENEWAL OR RAISE OF GRADE: An average unaided hearing threshold of 70 db or less for each ear and/or functional speech discrimination of at least 80% at 55 db for each ear is acceptable.

DECK OFFICER: Hearing aids may be used by applicants to meet the auditory requirements for all renewal or raise of grade transactions. The aided threshold should be 40 db or less in each ear and functional speech discrimination should be at least 90% at 55 db in both ears. The unaided threshold should be 70 db or less in each ear and functional speech discrimination of at least80% at 55 db, binaural.

Other conditions outside of the ones discussed may be considered for a waiver when recommended by the Officer in Charge Marine Inspection.
__________________
Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School