Go to content

Medical examinations

The objective of the seafarer medical examination is to ascertain whether the examinee complies to the medical standards and is capable of performing his or her duties on board. The examination therefore not only focuses on the crew member’s personal safety, but also that of other persons on board and ships passing.

It is therefore essential that the examining physician has a thorough knowledge of the specific working conditions on board, in order to assess the safety risks involved accurately. The medical examiner uses the form Medical examination that is added to this page.

After certified fit, a medical certificate is issued to the seafarer. This English-language document includes the results of the general medical fitness as well as the visual and auditory outcomes. The validity is 2 years at the most.

The Dutch medical certificate may be submitted at the application for a Dutch endorsement or when embarking a ship registered in the Netherlands.

Appointed doctors may examine seafarers

Only doctors, appointed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management may issue the Dutch seafarers’ medical certificate.

Addresses are published on this website (see documents below). Pdf software, for example Acrobat Reader (free), is required to view the files.

Seafarer medical certificates issued by an EU-member state or by Australia, Canada, Iceland, India, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, United Kingdom, South Africa and Switzerland may be submitted at the application for a Dutch endorsement as well or when embarking a ship registered in the Netherlands.

Declaration of medical unfitness

When the seafarer is found medically unfit, the examining physician uses the form Declaration of medical unfitness that is added to this page.

Documents