Seafarer medical examination

Seafarer medical examination for inland navigation and maritime shipping

• If you want to apply for or renew a European Union qualification certificate or dienstboekje (service booklet) for inland navigation, you need a medische keuring binnenvaart (seafarer medical examination for inland navigation).
• To work as a crew member onboard a seagoing vessel registered in the Netherlands, you need a medische keuring zeevaart (seafarer medical examination for maritime shipping) every 2 years.

Medical examinations are not compulsory for vocational or tertiary students, however they are recommended. Without the medical examination, students will not be able to start an internship or work on a ship.

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Examination by medical doctor

For the examination, you must visit a medical doctor who is authorised by the ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, IenW (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management). This cannot be your general physician (GP), a consulting physician nor your company doctor.

During the examination you can identify yourself with a passport or valid identification document (ID). A service book or monsterboekje (seaman’s book) is not considered a valid form of ID in this situation.

The medical doctor will check whether you meet the examination requirements. You answer questions about your health and previous examination results.

• The general inspection requirements for inland navigation (in Dutch) can be found in the Binnenvaartregeling (Inland Navigation Regulations). European Union (EU) directive 2020/12 lists the medical requirements for inland navigation by disorder.
• The general medical examination requirements for maritime shipping (in Dutch) can be found in the Keuringsreglement voor de zeevaart 2012 (Seafarers Examination Regulation 2012). The Guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers lists the medical requirements for maritime shipping per disorder (appendices A to E).

Result of the seafarer medical examination

You will either receive from the doctor:

• A Geneeskundige verklaring (medical certificate) upon passing your medical examination.
• A Verklaring van medische ongeschiktheid (declaration of medical unsuitability) if you do not pass your medical examination.

If your application is suspended pending a re-examination, you must visit the same appointed examining doctor for the re-examination. A medical examination conducted by a different examining doctor is not valid.

If your application is denied or cancelled, re-examination or exemption is sometimes possible.