Medical certificates: maritime security guards
Guidance for maritime security guards and their employers about the medical certificates needed for working at sea.
Overview
Maritime security guards are also known as private maritime security contractors (PMSCs), armed guards, or security personnel.
This guidance for maritime security guards, and their employers, outlines the medical fitness certificate requirements specific to them.
Medical certificates
If your normal place of work is on a UK flag vessel, then you are classed as a 鈥榮eafarer鈥� and you need an ENG1 certificate or equivalent.
Read 鈥楽eafarers: medical certification guidance鈥�.
Maritime security guards who fail ENG1 colour vision tests
If you fail an Isihara test, you鈥檒l get your ENG1, but it will be restricted: 鈥楴o navigational lookout duties鈥�
If you pass a Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test at one of four centres in the UK, the restriction can be removed. This is providing there are no other medical conditions that may affect your fitness to work at sea.
See MIN 564 and MSN 1839 corrigendum for details of the CAD test and how to arrange a test.
Employers of maritime security guards: medical certification guidance
Because a maritime security guard is classed as a 鈥榮eafarer鈥�, they must have the minimum appropriate medical fitness certificate: an ENG 1 or equivalent.
An ENG 1 is an assessment of a person鈥檚 fitness to work at sea. It doesn鈥檛 assess their mental health, or how suitable they are to carry a firearm.
If you want your security guards to have additional fitness, mental health or firearm testing:
- get legal advice on the competence level a doctor needs to assess them on
- get them tested with another doctor
Please note: The approved doctor might be happy to carry out the additional testing, but this is at their discretion because it falls outside of the ENG1 requirements.
Discuss this with MCA before the appointment is booked.
Further guidance for employers
The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a code of practice that details the best way to assess a maritime security guard鈥檚 fitness.