Seafarer

How to Obtain a Seafarer Health Report?

The Seafarer Health Report is a medical report, issued in accordance with the Seafarers' Health Directive of 6 December 2013, that certifies a seafarer's or seafarer candidate's fitness to work at sea based on the examinations and tests performed. For persons over 18, it is valid for 2 years. Seafarers must undergo a periodic medical examination once every 2 years in accordance with the provisions of the “Seafarers' Health Directive”. Examinations for first-time seafarers and the periodic examinations repeated every 2 years are carried out by public and private healthcare institutions authorised under the provisions of the Seafarers' Health Directive issued by the Ministry of Health.

Who Is Required to Obtain a Seafarer Health Report?

Professional and amateur seafarers, small-scale fishermen, boat owners and everyone working on ships are required to obtain this report.

What Do You Need to Do to Become a Seafarer?

A person who decides to become a seafarer should first apply to the centres known as Coastal Health Inspection Centres, obtain information about the documents to be prepared and, following their guidance, apply to hospitals and medical centres to find out what type of medical board report is required.

Who Can Apply?

• Seafarer candidates applying to become a seafarer for the first time,

• Seafarers who have not had their periodic examination on time,

• Seafarers referred to the medical board for a general examination during a periodic examination,

• Seafarers who have completed three consecutive periodic examinations and thus used up their periodic examination entitlement must apply in person for a general examination to an authorised healthcare institution with a seafarer medical board.

Seafarers or seafarer candidates apply in person to the authorised centres within 30 working days at the latest, with the “Seafarers' Health Examination Form” obtained from the healthcare institution, the seafarer fitness health report and the documents of all tests performed, to have the “Seafarers' Health Examination Certificate” issued. Seafarers who do not have their periodic examination at the authorised centres within 3 months of the expiry date of the Seafarer Health Examination Certificate are subject to a general examination.

Seafarer Fitness Health Report

Candidates applying for the Seafarers' Health Examination Certificate for the first time, as well as seafarers who have not actively worked at sea for more than 2 years, are entitled to receive the Seafarer Fitness Health Report if, as a result of the examinations, they have no physical impediment (disability, illness, etc.) to becoming a seafarer under the provisions of the Seafarers' Health Directive.

Seafarer General Examination:

• Internal Medicine

• Ophthalmology

• ENT

• Psychiatry

• Orthopaedics and Traumatology departments perform this examination.

The Following Tests Are Performed in the Seafarer General Examination

• Complete Blood Count

• Fasting Blood Glucose

• Complete Urinalysis

• Urea

• Creatinine

• Anti-HIV

• HBsAg

• Anti-HCV

• SGOT - SGPT

• Urine Drug Screening

• ECG

• Audiometry

• Chest X-ray

Documents Required for the Seafarer Periodic Health Report

Seafarers must undergo a periodic check-up every two years to determine whether their health is suitable for working at sea. As a result of these check-ups, seafarers are issued a Periodic Health Examination Report. For persons under 18 to be employed continuously in maritime service, Periodic Health Examinations are repeated every year. Since the tests for the Seafarer Health Report require fasting, candidates must come to the hospital between 08:30 and 10:30.

The tests performed in the periodic examination are:

• Complete Blood Count

• Fasting Blood Glucose

• Complete Urinalysis

• Anti-HIV

• HBsAg

• ECG

• Audiometry

• PA Chest X-ray