You must have an ENG 1 or an ML5 seafarer medical fitness certificate to work at sea.
Get an ENG 1 certificate
You need an ENG 1 certificate if you're any of the following:
- a seafarer
- in charge of a ship
- serving on a merchant ship or yacht
- working on a fishing vessel in some situations
The fee for an ENG 1 medical examination is £115. To book please contact us.
If you're working on a fishing vessel
You need an ENG 1 certificate if one or more of the following apply:
- the vessel needs to be inspected at a foreign port
- the vessel is over 24m long
- you're at sea for more than 72 hours
- you're fishing more than 200 miles off the UK coastline
- you're fishing beyond the continental shelf
If none of these apply, you need an ML5 certificate.
How to apply for an ENG 1 certificate
An ENG 1 certificate must be issued by a doctor approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Please contact us to book.
The doctor will give you an ENG 1 certificate if you pass the examination.
What to take
Bring the following to your examination:
- your previous medical certificate if you have one
- your local doctor's name, address and contact details
- any medication you're taking
- your glasses or contact lenses but not colour correction lenses
- an accepted form of photo ID
- NHS app downloaded with access to your FULL medical records
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use one of the following as photo ID:
- passport
- photocard driving licence
- national identity card or citizen's card
- a seaman's card or discharge book
Get an ML5 certificate
You need an ML5 medical certificate if you're:
- the master of a passenger ship that does not go to sea (Class IV or V)
- the master of a commercial vessel that does not go to sea
- the master or a crew member of a small commercial vessel certificated for Area Category 2 to 6 (no more than 60 miles from a safe haven)
- a crew member or anyone else (for example catering staff) who normally works on a domestic passenger ship (Class VI or VIA) that goes to sea
- working on a fishing vessel in some situations
There is not a set fee for an ML5 certificate. At OccHealthNet we charge £125.
If you're working on a fishing vessel
You need an ML5 certificate if all of the following apply:
- the vessel does not need to be inspected at a foreign port
- you're at sea for less than 72 hours
- you're fishing less than 200 miles off the UK coastline
- you're fishing within the continental shelf
- you're a new entrant and the vessel is less than 24m long
- you're an 'existing fisher' and the vessel is over 10m but less than 24m long
You're an existing fisher if you were working for 4 weeks or more on a UK registered fishing vessel between 30 November 2021 and 29 November 2023.