Medical fitness

No one may become seafarer unless he/she meets the following medical fitness requirements (art. L. 5521-1, Transport Code).

Framework for seafarers medical aptitude in France

Medical fitness must be checked by a doctor from the French Seafarers’ Health Service - SSGM (or, by way of derogation, by a doctor established abroad - see below):

  • seafarer who is seaman: "No seaman may work on board a ship unless he or she produces a valid medical certificate stating that he or she is medically fit to perform his or her duties." (art. L. 5545-3-1, Transport Code) ;
  • seafarer who is not seaman : "Seafarers who are not seamen may only work on board a ship if they meet the following medical fitness conditions" (art. L. 5549-1, Transport Code).

The purpose of the medical fitness for navigation examination is to ensure that seafarers, by meeting the medical fitness for navigation standards (art. 1, Decree no. 2015-1575 of 3 December 2015 on health and medical fitness for navigation):

  • are medically fit to carry out their normal duties at sea and the duties that would fall to them in an emergency;
  • do not have a medical condition likely to be aggravated by service at sea, to render them unfit for such service or to endanger the health and security of other persons on board.

This medical examination leads to the issuance with a certificate of medical fitness for navigation for a fixed period (art. 1, decree no 2015-1575 of 3 December 2015 on health and medical fitness for navigation).

Medical certificate of fitness issued by the French Seafarers’ Health Service (SSGM)

The medical fitness of seafarers (both seafarers and seafarers not seamen) is checked by the SSGM free of charge. (art. L. 5521-1, Transport Code and art. 10 to 12, Decree no 2015-1574 of 3rd December 2015 on the French Seafarers’ Health Service).

Click here to get the French Seafarers’ Health Service contact details..

Appointment booking platform of the French Seafarer’s Healt Service

Certificate of medical fitness issued by a doctor practising abroad

As an exception to the principle that medical fitness must be verified by a French Seafarers’ Health Service’s doctor, a seafarer may use the services of a doctor practising abroad (art. L. 5521-1-1, Transport Code).

Note that, 3 cumulative conditions must be met for the French maritime authorities to recognise the validity of a medical certificate of fitness for navigation issued by a doctor practising in a foreign country (art. L. 5521-1-1, Transport Code).

1st condition: the doctor is established in a State that applies a convention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) or the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) containing requirements relating to minimum standards of medical fitness for seafarers and fishermen. The list of conventions to which the State where the doctor practises must be a party is given in theOrder of 20 September 2017 specifying the international conventions of reference for the application of Article L. 5521-1-1 of the Transport Code :

    • STCW Convention (London, 7 July 1978);
    • STCW-F Convention (London, 7 July 1995);
    • C073 - Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention (Genevea, 29 June 1946);
    • C113 - Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention (Geneva, 19 June 1959);
    • Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, Geneva, 7 February 2006);
    • C188 - Work in Fishing Convention (Geneva, 14 June 2007).

2nd condition: this doctor is authorised to issue these certificates by the authorities of this State.

Note: if the doctor is approved by one State but practises in a different State, the 2nd condition is not met.
Example: a doctor approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the United Kingdom, practising in the United States.

Each State publishes its list of doctors approved to carry out medical fitness examinations for seafarers. Examples of such lists are:

3rd condition: certificates of medical fitness for navigation thus issued:

Revalidation of medical fitness

The period of validity of the medical certificate of fitness for navigation varies according to the provisions set out in art. 8 of Decree no 2015-1575 of 3 December 2015 on health and medical fitness for navigation :

  • seafarers aged between 18 and 55: 2 years maximum;
  • seafarers aged under 18 and over 55: 1 year maximum ;
  • seafarers with bridge watchkeeping, driving or watchkeeping duties, who work mainly at night: 1 year maximum;
  • seafarers under special medical supervision: at the doctor’s discretion.

End of validity of the certificate of medical fitness at sea

When the period of validity of the seafarers’ medical fitness certificate expires during an international voyage or while the seafarer is abroad, this certificate remains valid for a maximum of 3 additional months, until the next port of call where it can be renewed (art. 8 of Decree no 2015-1575 of 3 December 2015 on health and medical fitness for navigation).

Captain’s/owner’s liability and penalties

The master or shipowner is responsible for checking that all seafarers embarking on his or her vessel hold a valid certificate of medical fitness for navigation. (art. L. 5545-3-1, Transport Code).

The admission on board a ship by the captain or the shipowner of a crew member who does not have a valid certificate of medical fitness is punishable by 6 months’ imprisonment and a fine of €3,750. (art. L. 5523-6, Transport Code).

Administrative procedures requiring a certificate of fitness for navigationl

In addition to the obligation to have their medical fitness checked by a doctor in order to enter this regulated profession, all seafarers embarking under the French flag must then provide a valid certificate of medical fitness for navigation, as part of the following administrative procedures:

  • application for a definitive seafarer’s identification number;
  • application for a seaman book;
  • application for a French endorsement on COC/GMDSS/COP issued by a foreign state;
  • application for profesional training derogation on board a French flagged ship.

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