Maritime NZ, New Zealand’s shipping regulatory agency informed seafarers who are applying for or renewing a certificate of competency or proficiency, or for those they want to use a ring-fenced certificate, that they need to prove that medical fitness and eyesight meet the required standards.
Requirements for ring-fenced certificates
If you’re one of the seafarers who ring-fenced their ticket(s), you will also need a medical certificate to keep working. The medical certificate will be due two years from the date your verification card was issued. You will get a reminder from MNZ before it’s due. When it’s time, seafarers need to:
- Go to a registered GP: Medical examinations for ring-fenced certificates can be conducted by any New Zealand registered GP.
- Take a photo ID, information on the tickets you hold and print the certificate
- Ask your GP to conduct a medical examination and complete the certificate.
- The GP will assign you a medical category. You need an A, A(T) or B to continue using your ticket.
- Keep the medical certificate. You need a copy with you when you are working on a ship as evidence of your fitness and any conditions.
Requirements for national certificates
To apply for or renew a national certificate of competency or proficiency, you need to prove that your medical fitness and eyesight meet the required standards. For national certificates any GP can conduct a medical examination.
- Print out a certificate to take along to the GP:
- Looking for a GP: The medical examination for any national certificate may be conducted by any New Zealand registered GP.
- Find an optometrist: If you are applying for a new Deck certificate then you’ll need to have an eyesight and colour vision test conducted by a registered optometrist. If you require an eyesight test by a registered optometrist, search the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Board’s online register.
Requirements for STCW or STCW-F certificates
To apply for or renew an STCW or STCW-F certificate of competency or proficiency, you need to prove that your medical fitness and eyesight meet the required standards. For an STCW or STCW-F certificate the medical examination must be conducted by an approved medical practitioner.
If you are applying for a new Deck certificate then you’ll need to have an eyesight and colour vision test conducted by a registered optometrist.
If you require an eyesight test by a registered optometrist, search the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Board’s online register.
Further guidance may be found in the following document:
