By Suhasini Deshmukh, Director, MedRabbits Healthcare and Clinic
The seafaring community in India is steadily gaining importance globally. Thus, it is critical to focus on the health of seafarers as part of maritime preparedness. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) established a Maritime Health Unit that mandates the seafarers to undergo medical evaluation. The medical evaluation has to be carried out by a DGS approved Medical Practitioner, who will issue a Medical Certificate of Fitness. The framework includes the assessment of the various physical fitness parameters including musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neurological as well as ocular.
However, a medical fitness certificate should be considered as the beginning of a larger process regarding the health of seafarers. An individual may be fit at the time of examination but may at the same time exhibit potentials for health problems that could later need medical intervention. The importance of continued assessment, early detection of potential problems and medical advice becomes even greater when a seafarer starts working at sea and may not be able to react to health issues properly because of the nature of life at sea.
Medical fitness is just the beginning
Although the fitness certificate is crucial for making sure that the seafarer is safe before boarding the vessel, it should not stop the doctor from having a more thorough conversation about health on the maritime worker’s health. A detailed examination can help assess the individual’s health baseline and the failure factors that need to be monitored. The goal should be to provide not only an answer to the question concerning whether an individual is fit for sailing today but also to understand whether there exist some risk factors that may become active during the voyage.
Identifying health risks before deployment
The meaning of a thorough assessment before their sea journey lies in spotting possible issues prior to them turning into health or operational issues on board. Measuring blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipid concentrations, liver and kidney function, sight, hearing and other medical parameters helps to acquire a better picture of a patient’s health state. When results are taken together, the presence of danger can be identified. For instance, elevated blood pressure together with abnormal results of blood lipid concentrations or glucose toleration can point to potential metabolic disorders, granting the possibility for more in-depth investigations and procedures.
Addressing lifestyle risks early
Seafarers’ working conditions may affect their health over time. Irregular working hours may interfere with sleep, whereas the long duration of work may inhibit the ability to physically exercise; diets followed at sea may greatly contribute to nutritional conditions. Moreover, spending prolonged time away from family and friends may mean having to cope with stress caused by being away. Thus, it is important to reveal wellness-related concerns before they lead to serious problems. For instance, having excess weight, highest blood pressure level, poor metabolic measurements, or insufficient sleep means that the seafarer needs help or assistance for leading a healthier lifestyle, although they may seem healthy otherwise.
Building safer seafaring operations
The health of seafarers is directly linked to the safety of the operations. A serious medical incident on board can impair the working ability of a person and create an additional burden for the other members of crew. If evacuation or specialized medical assistance is not immediately available, conditions that could have been effectively treated on shore become much more complicated at sea. Enhanced pre-deployment healthcare can help in identifying the health conditions that need treatment before a voyage as well as in educating the seafarers about the solutions to their already present health problems and recognizing the signs of danger.
Strengthening maritime healthcare infrastructure
With the increase in India’s maritime workforce, the healthcare system must be prepared to meet the needs of seafarers. The medical centres that are licensed by DG Shipping contribute to this system through their examinations that follow the required standards. With the capacity for diagnostics and expert clinical knowledge, these medical centres could go beyond just evaluation regarding fitness but offer medical advice, preventive measures and prompt referral whenever it is necessary.
The development of India’s maritime industry relies on the unskilled workforce capable of dealing with the demanding jet and maritime jobs. Although being certified fit for working at sea is important, improving seafarers’ health is a much more complex thing that requires more pillars and preventive measures than mere certification at the time of their hiring. World Maritime Day 2026 is a chance to highlight the significance of differentiating the “fit-for-sailing” certification and the health certificate that covers the whole range of maritime-related aspects.
Author:
Suhasini Deshmukh, Director, MedRabbits Healthcare and Clinic
