Merchant Navy medical FAQs

Deck duties demand the sharpest vision because they involve lookout and navigation. The usual standard is 6/6 in the better eye and not worse than 6/9 in the other, with no colour vision deficiency. Exact figures are set by DGMA and verified on the day by the approved examiner.

Engine-room and electro-technical roles allow a slightly more relaxed standard than deck — broadly around 6/12 in each eye, or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other, again with normal colour vision. Treat these as indicative; the DGMA-approved doctor applies the current rule.

For first-time entrants the expectation is that your unaided vision already meets the standard for your department — you cannot rely on glasses to reach it at entry. Serving seafarers may be allowed correction within limits. Get your actual vision measured before assuming anything.

Refractive surgery such as LASIK or ICL is generally accepted, provided your post-surgery vision meets the department standard and the eye has healed without complications. Carry your surgical records and a specialist fitness note to the medical.

The medical assesses your actual vision (the 6/6, 6/9 scale), not the dioptre 'power' on your glasses prescription. Two people with the same power can have different corrected/uncorrected vision. The only way to know is an eye test against the department standard.

These are case-by-case. A cataract usually needs to be surgically corrected first; a squint typically needs correction; floaters often need a specialist's report to present at the medical. The DGMA-approved examiner makes the final call based on your current eye health.

No — normal colour vision is a hard requirement for sea service, because recognising signal lights and colour-coded equipment is safety-critical. It is checked at the DGMA medical using calibrated test plates.

You can take a quick at-home indication with our colour vision screening, but remember screen colours are unreliable — it is only a heads-up, never a substitute for the calibrated test a DGMA-approved doctor performs.

Officer-entry programmes generally require about 157 cm for males and 150 cm for females; GP Rating floors are a little lower. Candidates from hilly or North-East regions get a relaxation of around 5 cm. Confirm the exact figure with your MTI, as some set their own minimums.

A BMI roughly in the 18.5–25 fit band is what's expected at the medical; a BMI of 30+ is typically a rejection. You can get an instant read against this band using our BMI Calculator, then plan to be in range before your medical.

Entrants are expected to hear clearly across frequencies — broadly the ability to perceive sound at around 40 dB. Serving seafarers are assessed against a more relaxed threshold. An audiometry test confirms it at the medical.

Reliance on a hearing aid to meet the standard is generally not accepted for sea service. Get your unaided hearing tested to know where you stand.

Clear speech matters because seafarers must communicate in emergencies. A mild issue may be fine; speech therapy can help beforehand. The examiner assesses whether communication is reliably effective.

Routine dental work is usually not a barrier on its own; the concern is functional fitness (being able to eat and avoid onboard dental emergencies). Braces, caps after root-canal, chipped or some missing teeth are commonly acceptable, often with a dentist's note. Confirm specifics with the examiner.

Minor, stable or cosmetic skin findings (like freckles or limited vitiligo) are typically not disqualifying. Active, extensive or infectious conditions (untreated fungal infection, flaring eczema or psoriasis) usually need to be treated first. The examiner judges severity and activity.

Fully healed scars that don't limit function generally aren't a problem in themselves. Where relevant, overall mental and physical fitness is what's assessed. If this applies to you, our Student Desk can guide you sensitively on preparing for the medical.

The guiding principle is functional capability: can you walk, run, climb, lift and do shipboard tasks without limitation? A healed fracture is usually fine; implants and post-surgery cases often need an orthopaedic fitness certificate; unhealed or limiting injuries are not cleared until resolved.

Many structural variations are acceptable as long as they cause no functional limitation or pain in daily activity. Where there's any doubt or discomfort, a specialist fitness note is advisable before the DGMA medical.

Having had your appendix or gallbladder removed is generally not a barrier, provided you have no ongoing difficulty with daily tasks. Gilbert's syndrome is typically acceptable. Carry relevant records.

These need careful assessment. Active disease (e.g. current TB, untreated hepatitis, active pneumonia, untreated fatty liver) generally must be treated/resolved first; some, once fully healed, allow joining. Because lung and liver fitness are critical at sea, the DGMA-approved doctor's evaluation is decisive — don't assume a verdict from a web page.

An active stone usually has to be cleared (medically or surgically) before you're considered fit, since stones can cause an acute emergency at sea. Once resolved without complications, you may proceed to the medical.

A single kidney present from birth, or an ectopic kidney functioning normally, is often acceptable; a surgically removed kidney or active kidney disease is treated much more cautiously. Specialist evaluation and fitness certification are typically required.

Some require treatment before clearance; others, once corrected without residual problems, are acceptable. These are individual assessments made by a DGMA-approved doctor — get evaluated rather than relying on general statements.

Entry with diabetes is generally not permitted for freshers because of the safety implications at sea. Serving seafarers are assessed under specific, stricter criteria. Get current clinical advice for your situation.

Freshers are generally expected to be within a normal range (broadly under 150/90), with somewhat higher allowances for older serving seafarers. Have it checked and, if borderline, managed before the medical.

Mildly raised cholesterol or a well-controlled thyroid condition is often acceptable; vertigo that affects balance, climbing or enclosed-space work is a genuine concern for sea service. The examiner weighs control and functional impact.

Conditions with a risk of sudden incapacitation (such as active epilepsy or a history of paralytic episodes) are treated very seriously and are commonly disqualifying; any childhood history usually needs a neurologist's fitness certificate. This is firmly a doctor's assessment.