yacht crew doctors

ENG1 Medical

MCA Approved Doctors for ENG1 Examinations

ENG1 Medical Certificates or an ENG1 medical Equivalent are essential for any Superyacht or Ship crew member. Only MCA-approved doctors are qualified to take ENG1 examinations. Certain countries seafarer medical certificates are accepted by the MCA as ENG1 medical equivalents, although the ENG1 certificate is generally prefered by vessels governed by the MCA (Maritime Coast Guard Agency), especially for higher-ranked crew members.

Find an MCA approved doctor for ENG1 medicals (All countries)

ENG1 Medical Information

We advise the candidate to inform themselves about the ENG1 medical examination before booking an appointment with a doctor. Below you will find why you need the certificate, how often it needs to be renewed as well as how much it costs. We will also give you a run-through of what to expect during the examination as well as any potential restrictions you may encounter.

Why Do I Need an ENG1 Medical Certificate?

An ENG1 medical certificate declares you as fit and healthy to safely engage in the duties associated with being a Superyacht or ship crew member.

The ENG1 medical examination ensures that the crew member does not have any medical conditions that may jeopardize the safety of other crew members or passengers on board.

Certain medical conditions may be acceptable for specific jobs onboard a vessel and others may not. For example, a colour blind crew member will not be fit for lookout duties on the bridge onboard a superyacht, but may still be fit for duties in other departments. A crew members ENG1 certificate will either state that the crew member is fit with no restrictions, fit with restrictions or unfit for work (Either temporarily or permanently).

ENG1 Medical Examination Procedure

An ENG1 medical typically takes about 30 minutes and it is a quick non-invasive procedure. The process will differ slightly, depending on the patient and the doctor, however, an ENG1 examination will generally include the following:

A urine sample (to test for diabetes, kidney functions, blood sugars etc.).
General lifestyle questions (drinking and smoking habits, exercise routine etc.).
Your blood pressure will be checked.
Height and weight will be recorded.
A standard eye test.
A test for colour blindness.

Image showing a doctor performing ENG1 medical inspection to inform candidate.

A hearing test.
A standard reflex test.
You will be asked to remove your t-shirt and the doctor will listen to your heart and lungs.
Your ears and throat will be checked.
Finally, the doctor will ask the last time you went for a dental checkup (yacht crew are encouraged to see a dentist at least once a year to prevent painful tooth emergencies whilst out at sea).

Where Can an ENG1 Medical Examination be Performed?

An ENG1 medical examination has to be performed by an MCA qualified doctor. MCA approved doctors can be found in any of the following countries (Accurate as per gov.uk website updated on the 19th of June 2019).

British virgin Islands

New Zealand

Philippines

South Africa

Trinidad & Tobago

United Kingdom

United Arab Emriates

United States of America

How Much Does an ENG1 Examination Cost?

The maximum fee for an ENG 1 medical examination is £115 in the UK. You can expect to pay €120 to €150 in Europe, R2500 in South Africa, and $140 - $175 in the US.

Please confirm the rates with the respective medical center as these are merely guidelines.

How Long is an ENG1 Medical Certificate Valid For?

Crew members have to renew their certificate every two years (some every year if they have certain health restrictions). It is important to plan ahead when it comes to booking an appointment for an examination as there are a limited amount of MCA qualified doctors.

You will find ENG1 doctors in Fort Lauderdale, Antibes, the U.K. and other super yachting or maritime hubs around the world, but it is still important to plan ahead, especially with the busy schedules of yacht crew.

Not having the certificate in time could cost you a job - make sure you don't get caught out!

ENG1 Medical Certificate Outcomes and Restrictions

Candidates who do not pass the medical may be disallowed from working at sea, while others may be given restrictions in terms of which duties they can perform. For example, if you do not pass the eye, colour-blindness or hearing test you will not be allowed to perform lookout duties. This will severely restrict your ability to work on deck and will mean that you are unable to become an officer or captain. There are many other medical conditions that will prevent you from working at sea. We recommend that you take the ENG1 medical before attending your STCW or any other courses. This will help prevent you from wasting time and money if you are deemed unfit to work at sea.

Visit the ENG1 section of the MCA website for more detailed information.

My Crew Kit ENG1 Medical Video Summary.

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What is the ENG1 Medical Certificate and Why Do I Need it?

Holly is the editor of Dockwalk. She grew up racing sailboats in England before switching to the world of superyachts and moving across the pond to Fort Lauderdale.

Ask any crewmember and they’ll tell you straight: yachting is hard work. It’s not just the early mornings and late-night watches, but the job requires a high level of physicality, particularly so for those working on deck. The ENG1 certificate ensures that every member of the crew, interior and exterior, meets the minimum standard of health to work at sea. Here is why having an ENG1 Medical certificate is so important (and necessary)...

What is the ENG1 Medical Certificate?

Under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), “no person may work as a seafarer unless that person has been issued with a medical fitness certificate” and the ENG1 is the most widely accepted medical certificate a person can hold. The ENG1 certifies whether or not you are suitably fit to fulfill your duties on a seafaring vessel, determined by a comprehensive top-to-toe medical assessment set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). All seafarers are asked to complete this medical fitness test to minimize the risk of medical emergencies at sea.

Do I Need an ENG1 Medical Certificate?

Yes. Anyone looking to work on a luxury yacht will need to possess a valid crew medical certificate. The MCA says, “if you are employed on a ship, and it’s your normal place of work, then regulations require you to have a medical examination.” The ENG1 isn’t the only medical certificate accepted in the yachting industry but it is the most widely recognized. You can view an up-to-date list of equivalent medical certifications on the MCA website .

As well as adhering to the Maritime Labour Convention, yacht insurance companies will also require vessels to meet a certain standard of safety which, in most cases, will mean that all crew must be fully STCW certified and hold a valid ENG1 medical certificate or the equivalent.

It is also important to note that while the ENG1 is not necessarily a prerequisite for the STCW Basic Training course, it is beneficial to find out as early as possible if there is any medical reason that would prevent you from working on a yacht or restrict you from performing certain tasks on board.

What is the STCW Basic Training Certificate and Do I Need It?

What to Expect From an ENG1 Medical Assessment

The ENG1 Medical assessment will offer a comprehensive review of your health. It is painless and non-invasive and will be conducted by an MCA-approved medical professional. While the assessment is nothing to worry about it does have the potential to uncover an underlying health condition that could prevent you from working on a yacht. A standard examination can take anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes and will include the following:

Measurement of height and weight
A standard eye test and color blindness test
A hearing test
Ear and throat evaluations
Inspection of teeth and gums
Questions on your medical history, including drinking and smoking habits
A urine sample to test kidney function and blood sugar levels
Reflex and hernia testing
Listening to your heart and lungs, testing blood pressure and heart rate

What Happens if I Fail the ENG1 Examination?

At the end of the ENG1 Medical Assessment you will be issued with a certificate that will certify you as one of the following:

fit without restrictions (unrestricted)
fit with restrictions (limiting your work to certain jobs or locations)
temporarily or permanently unfit

If you pass the ENG1 and you are confirmed fit without restrictions, you’ll be handed your certificate that same day. If you are found to be temporarily unfit, your examining doctor might require additional information about your medical history and delay their decision.

If you are found to be permanently unfit, you will receive an ENG3 Notice of Failure/Restriction, which will last a minimum of five years. You may undertake another ENG1 medical assessment within the five-year period if you can prove that the condition that caused you to fail has been reversed. If you fail the Ishihara test, which tests for color blindness, there is a further Color Assessment Diagnosis (CAD) that can assess the severity and type of color vision loss. Color blindness may prevent you from nighttime watchkeeping.

What Should I Bring With to an ENG1 Medical Examination?

If this isn’t your first time undertaking an ENG1 examination, you will need to bring your current medical certification. If you have taken an ENG1 previously and failed, you should let the examining doctor know.

details of any medication you are currently taking
any glasses or contact lenses
contact details for your doctor
any reports or letters from your GP, if you’ve recently been to a hospital, or are under a consultant
an official form of ID with a photo: a passport, a photocard driving license, a discharge book

How Long is the ENG1 Certificate Valid For?

If you are over the age of 18 and pass the basic medical assessment, your certificate will last two years. However, if you develop a health condition that affects your ability to work within those two years, the certificate will become invalid.

What is the Difference Between an ML5 and an ENG1 Certificate?

Crew looking to land a job on a luxury yacht will need the ENG1 along with an STCW Basic Training certification. However, for crew working on a non-seagoing passenger ship or a domestic seagoing passenger ship, there is the ML5 medical report, but holders of this certificate will be limited to 60 miles offshore.