Medical examinations

​​​​​Professional diving is a physically demanding job and there are requirements for the diver's physical condition and health.

See the list of approved medical examiners for diver's is available on this page.

See the list of maritime medical practitioners in Denmark who have been appointed by the Danish Maritime Authority​.​.

Medical examination in Greenland:

• Identification (discharge book, passport, driver's licence or any other photo ID)
• Medical certificate if you already have one

Medical examinations abroad:

Medical certificates issued by a foreign authority can be equated with a Danish Medical Certificate provided that it is issued by an authority that has implemented the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and is issued in accordance with the provisions of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).

The Danish forms for medical examinations cannot be used by foreign medical examiners. 

Seafarers must be in possession of a valid Medical Certificate when serving on board a Danish ships.

The seafarer must be able to present a valid Medical Certificate at all times during his / her employment. It is up to the shipmaster and the shipping company to ensure that the health certificate meets the necessary requirements.

Medical certificates for seafarers and fishermen

The STCW Convention was amended in 2010, the so-called Manila amendments. As a consequence, eyesight requirements have become stricter for seafarers and fishermen. The eyesight requirement for look-out duty without eyesight corrections for each eye has to be at least 0.1 (6/60). With eyesight corrections, the requirement is at least 0.5 (6/12).

Each individual maritime medical examiner must still observe the eyesight requirements stipulated in annex 1 to the order on medical examinations of seafarers and fishermen when making decisions about eyesight unless the seafarer or fisherman, in connection with the medical examination, presents a previous exemption document from the Danish Maritime Authority concerning “fitness for lookout duty”.

The Danish Maritime Authority has, so far, granted exemptions to seafarers or fishermen who were fit for look-out duty and had an eyesight vision of less than 0.5 in order for them to continue their work. The Danish Maritime Authority could only grant the exemptions until 31 December 2015 and the exemptions would apply until 31 December 2016.

Now, however, it has become possible to continue granting exemptions if the seafarer or fisherman has already been examined by a medical examiner and was fit for look-out duty before 1 January 2012 according to the order on medical examinations of seafarers and fishermen valid at the time.

Seafarers or fishermen can apply for an exemption. 

The application must be forwarded to ​​​Danish Shipping Tribunal by email anke@naeveneshus.dk.

However, you can forward an application to the Danish Maritime Authority requesting a permit to be subjected to a new medical examination. Applications for new medical examinations should be forwarded by email to: soc@dma.dk​.

The following information should be given in the email:

• Name and date of birth.​​
• When were you examined by a medical practitioner?
• Have you been issued with a health certificate previously?
• Why would you like to be granted this permit? Remember to enclose any documentation.

Please observe that it is also possible to complain about the decision made by the maritime medical practitioner if you have been found unfit for ship service.

Read about the possibilities of complaining under "Complaint about the result of a medical examination.

Complaints can be made to the Danish Shipping Tribunal about medical examinations performed by maritime medical practitioners in either Denmark or abroad.

Seafarers, fishermen, the shipowner or the Danish Maritime Authority can file complaints. The complaint must have been filed no later than eight weeks after the date of examination.

Complaints should be submitted digitally at www.naevneneshus.dk

The Danish Shipping Tribunal, the Secretariat
The Danish Appeals Boards Authority (Nævnenes Hus)
Toldboden 2
DK-8800 Viborg
Tel. +45 72 40 56 00
Email: anke@naevneneshus.dk

In connection with future email enquiries, please leave out sensitive information, such as your social security number, since the internet connection is not encrypted.
However, if you do submit documentation containing your social security number, please cover the last four digits.

Seafarers and fishermen must pay for the medical examination themselves, but it is possible for them to have the amount refunded by their employer if they present a bill. This is also the case with students who have concluded a training agreement.

If you do not have an employer when the medical examination takes place, it is possible for the first employer who hires you to refund the amount upon presentation of the original bill from the maritime medical practitioner.

The Danish Maritime Authority pays the fee for medical examinations of students at nautical colleges, fishing schools and training ships where they are required to present a health certificate when being admitted to the maritime training programme.

Applications for being appointed a maritime medical practitioner must be forwarded to the Danish Maritime Authority.

Approval as maritime medical practitioner

The following criteria must be met in order to be considered for approval as a maritime medical practitioner:

• You must be a specialist in general medicine
• You must, as a minimum, be listed on the authorisation register of the Danish Health Authority and, preferably, have a provider number
• You must have an arrangement with a maritime medical practitioner to be trained in his or her company

Applications can be forwarded by email to soc@dma.dk. 

Applications must contain at least the following information:

• Name and address
• Documentation of education in general medicine
• Where you have your practice
• The maritime medical practitioner in the company of which you are to be trained, including this person's authorisation number as a maritime medical practitioner​​​