Australian Maritime Safety Authority  (AMSA)

 

A Certificate of Medical Fitness - Domestic Seafarers working up to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast is required for all new and equivalent applications effective from 1 January 2023.

 

AMSA medicals ensure seafarers are fit for duty at sea where medical care may not be immediately accessible. The medical assesses compliance with AMSA’s updated medical fitness standards.

 

The medical involves:

• Health questionnaire

• General medical exam (height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, pulse)

• Urinalysis

• Vision checks: near, distant, colour vision (Ishihara), visual fields

• Audiometry (hearing test)

• Spirometry (lung function)

• Drug and alcohol screening (urine)

• Possible extras, depending on job role: Hepatitis A vaccination, chest X-ray (if Doctors may reduce validity if medical conditions require monitoring.

 

A Certificate of Medical Fitness - Domestic Seafarer is valid for:

• up to 4 years if at the time of assessment, the person is 19 to 50 years old

• up to 2 years if at the time of the assessment the person is 51 to 60 years old

• up to 1 year if at the date of assessment, the person is not more than 18 years old; or 61 years old or more

 

This means if you’re planning to work as a domestic seafarer, you’ll need this medical assessment completed before commencing work and must renew it within the specified validity period (above).

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