ML5 medical certificate and the MCA

Capt Popeye

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Humm , just came accross an artical that appears to state that Commercial Fishermen (and Women ?), will need a current ML5 medical certificate from later this year , endorsed by the MCL I understand ; this Medical Certificate is in part to try and ensure that these engaged in Commercial Fishing are fit and healthy , so capable of comanding a Fishing Vessel ;

Might ask , (cause I do not know) if there is anything in the 'pipeline' similar with Commercial Yacht Skippers , or Independent Skippers , who take on trips for clients ?

Must say this was all new to me , so just how well known is this ?

Thank you CP
 

capnsensible

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In order to work at sea you must have a medical certificate. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) accept two certificates, dependent on what sort of work you are doing. They are known as the ENG1 and the ML5. You will need one or the other to receive a commercial endorsement.
An ENG1 medical certificate must be issued by a doctor approved by the MCA. The medical is fairly standard with blood pressure and urine samples taken as well as an eye test. Hearing may also be tested. The medical shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.
You will also be required to take along a photo ID (eg passport), your previous medical certificate (if you have one), your local doctor’s name, address and contact details, any medication you’re taking and your glasses or contact lenses (but not colour correction lenses).
An ENG1 medical certificate is required if you are;
  • a seafarer
  • in charge of a ship
  • serving on a merchant ship or yacht
The doctor will give you an ENG1 certificate if you pass the examination.
You need an ML5 medical certificate if you’re:
  • the master of a passenger ship that doesn’t go to sea (Class IV or V)
  • the master of a commercial vessel that doesn’t 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 (eg catering staff) who normally works on a domestic passenger ship (Class VI or VIA) that goes to sea
There isn’t a set ML5 fee but an ENG1 has a maximum cost of £80.
 

Capt Popeye

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Well thank you for all the replies /comments , I never knew any of these Medical tests existed for Sea Going Commercial folk

Cripes thats me clearly out then , I have so so many medical issues already mentioned , including Colour Blindness plus good enough sight , might think about taking up Golf or sumat ?
 

Bajansailor

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A sailing pal of mine in England is colour blind, and used to use (very effectively) a red / green filter that he would hold up to look through at lights when sailing to confirm what colour they were.
I remember him telling me that this was the reason why he could not get a commercial endorsement (or maybe even a Yachtmaster certificate) - surely if the light filter is effective, why did they not allow this to be used?
 
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st599

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A sailing pal of mine in England is colour blind, and used to use (very effectively) a red / green filter that he would hold up to look through at lights when sailing to confirm what colour they were.
I remember him telling me that this was the reason why he could not get a commercial endorsement (or maybe even a Yachtmaster certificate) - surely if the light filter is effective, why did they not allow this to be used?
I know a couple of people who swear by them in Portsmouth. They're not colour blind, but the ridiculous Navy lighting rigs are so bright, the colour of the much dimmer buoys is indistinguishable.
 

Greg2

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A sailing pal of mine in England is colour blind, and used to use (very effectively) a red / green filter that he would hold up to look through at lights when sailing to confirm what colour they were.
I remember him telling me that this was the reason why he could not get a commercial endorsement (or maybe even a Yachtmaster certificate) - surely if the light filter is effective, why did they not allow this to be used?

In my experience the MCA appear to be very risk averse and it can be difficult to get pragmatic solutions. Our son had aspirations to work at sea but failed the ENG1 on colour vision and the subsequent ‘lantern test.’ The frustrating thing was that he could always identify red/green lights in the real world but not on their tests!
 

AntarcticPilot

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A sailing pal of mine in England is colour blind, and used to use (very effectively) a red / green filter that he would hold up to look through at lights when sailing to confirm what colour they were.
I remember him telling me that this was the reason why he could not get a commercial endorsement (or maybe even a Yachtmaster certificate) - surely if the light filter is effective, why did they not allow this to be used?
Because the light filter could get lost or be inaccessible just when it's needed. Also, using it means that the user is seeing one colour only, and the bigger picture may be hard to determine - you need to see red and green simultaneously to visualize the buoys marking a winding channel, for example; I know a place where seeing only red or only green could lead you into trouble. Problems with eye-sight are a red line in many fields; I have had poor eyesight since childhood, so I've always known that some professions were barred for me - fortunately not ones I wanted to do! I am fortunate in that I know I have good colour vision - I had it checked while at University because some aspects of the microscopic examination of thin sections of rock required very faint shades to be distinguished, and I was uncertain whether I was getting it right. I was!
 

capnsensible

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I know a couple of people who swear by them in Portsmouth. They're not colour blind, but the ridiculous Navy lighting rigs are so bright, the colour of the much dimmer buoys is indistinguishable.
What is a 'ridiculous navy lighting rig' please? I've never heard of that.
 

Pete7

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What is a 'ridiculous navy lighting rig' please? I've never heard of that.
I think its the 3 large yellow frames with lights installed just outside Pompey harbour to enable the new aircraft carriers to line up with the harbour mouth. Don't know they don't use Nelsons Column on Portsdown Hill, but never mind.
 

Pete7

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Sailings tend to be day time, with a big tide.

I met one of these a while back whilst I was exiting Haslar Creek and it was just coming in. I turned around and did some circles for a while. It dwarfed the carrier as it passed by.

Virgin Voyages - Wikipedia.
 

Capt Popeye

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Thank you for all the posts about this Medical , never knew about any of it

So , is there an age at which one has to renew the medical ?

So those tales of aged Fisherfolk working until late in life , just keeping Potting and Fishing , are figments of one;s imagination ? if them have tp pass a Medical

But then again maybe them are not caught up in the system ?
 

Greg2

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Thank you for all the posts about this Medical , never knew about any of it

So , is there an age at which one has to renew the medical ?

So those tales of aged Fisherfolk working until late in life , just keeping Potting and Fishing , are figments of one;s imagination ? if them have tp pass a Medical

But then again maybe them are not caught up in the system ?

The fishing industry haven’t required a medical previously but it is now being introduced.

The MCA have slowly been introducing measures such as the compulsory wearing of lifejackets and technical requirements for fishing vessels over recent years to improve safety. It hasn’t been going down well amongst many fishermen.
.
 
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