GIBRALTAR MARITIME ADMINISTRATION(Ministry of Maritime Affairs)

Watergate House
2/8 Casemates SquareGibraltar

Tel (+350) 200 46862 / 47771 / 50424
Fax (+350) 200 47770
e-mail: maritime.survey@gibraltar.gov.gi
maritime.registry@gibraltar.gov.gi

Maritime Labour Notice (MLN) – 004______________________________________________________________________________
To: Ship Owners, Operators, Masters, Officers and Classification Societies

MLC Title 1.2 Medical Certificates

This MLN provides guidance on compliance with Gibraltar regulations which give effect to MLC 2006
Title 1.2. Implementation of these guidelines will be taken as evidence of compliance with the Gibraltar
regulations.
The guidelines do not preclude the shipowner from demonstrating an equivalent or higher standard as
an “alternative method” of evidence of compliance.

Documents referred to in this notice:
Maritime Labour Convention 2006;
Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Regulations 2012 – Reg. 6
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW);ILO 73 Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946.
Most regulations and notices are available on the Gibraltar Government website: www.gibraltarship.com

1. Medical Certificates1.1. This MLN explains the requirements to ensure that all seafarers on Gibraltar registered ships are
certified as medically fit to perform their duties. In order to comply with this regulation theshipowner is responsible to ensure that all seafarers hold a valid medical certificate attesting thatthey are medically fit to perform their duties before they begin work on a ship
1.2. All seafarers’ medical certificates may be inspected by the surveyor on the vessel during MLC
inspections and at the Gibraltar Maritime Administration office when a seafarer requests aGibraltar Endorsement. In either case the inspection is to ensure the certificates meet theminimum requirements as stated in this MLN.

2. Medical Practitioners and Medical Examinations
2.1. It should be noted that due to the low number of seafarers living in Gibraltar the Gibraltar Maritime
Administration does not regulate medical practitioners, or issue seafarers’ medical certificates.
However there are MCA registered medical practitioners in Gibraltar who are authorised to carryout medical examinations and issue medical certificates to seafarers in Gibraltar.
3. Requirements for Medical Certificates3.1. The Gibraltar Maritime Administration will accept medical certificates that have been issued inaccordance with at least one of the following conventions:3.1.1.Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC);
3.1.2.International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping forSeafarers (STCW);
3.1.3.ILO 73 Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946;
Or
3.1.4.In the case of seafarers who are not covered by the STCW convention, the medical
certificate shall meet the substance of the STCW requirements. This could apply to seafarers
who do not have watch-keeping responsibilities on board the vessel, yet are classified as
seafarers in accordance with MLC.
3.2. In order for the certificate to be valid it will have to be in English and state the following –3.2.1.The seafarer’s hearing and sight is satisfactory;
3.2.2.If the seafarer intends to be employed in a capacity where fitness for work will be affected by
defective colour vision then the certificate shall state the seafarer’s colour vision issatisfactory. This will generally apply to electricians but may apply to other seafarers;
3.2.3.The seafarer is not suffering from any medical condition likely to be aggravated by service at
sea or to render the seafarer unfit for such service or to endanger the health of other persons
on board.
4. Validity of Medical Certificates4.1. Unless a shorter period is required under STCW, or because of a specific duty the seafarer is toperform, the following shall apply:
4.1.1.the medical certificate shall be valid for a maximum period of 2 years;
4.1.2.for seafarers under the age of 18 the medical certificate shall be issued for a maximum
period of 1 year; and4.1.3.a colour vision certificate shall be valid for a maximum period of 6 years.
4.2. If a certificate expires while the seafarer is at sea, the certificate is allowed to remain in force until
the next port of call where the seafarer can obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical
practitioner though this period shall not exceed 3 months.
4.3. The Gibraltar Maritime Administration shall be contacted to request permission to allow a seafarerwith an expired medical certificate to join and work on a vessel where the shipowner has anurgent crewing requirement. This request will only be considered provided that:

4.3.1.the seafarer joins the vessel with a medical certificate which has not been expired for longer
than 1 month;
4.3.2.the seafarer undertakes a medical examination at the next port of call where it is possible toobtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner; and4.3.3.the period of permission shall not exceed 3 months

Alan Cubbin
Maritime AdministratorIssue date: November 2012

All notices are available through www.gibraltarship.com

This copy of the Administrative Instruction has been sent electronically and does not carry a signature or
official stamp. A sign and stamped copy will be available upon request