Norwegian health certificates

After changes in Norwegian “Regulations of 5 June 2014 No. 805 on medical examination of employees on Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units” there is no need to possess Norwegian health certificates. International health certificates issued in European Economic Area countries are equivalent to them.

There are changes in Norwegian regulations and their explanation below:

Due to the change in the EU’s Directive 2005/45 on the mutual recognition of seafarers certificates issued by the Member States, the NMA has changed Section 4 second paragraph in „Regulations of 5 June 2014 No. 805 on medical examination of employees on Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units”. Consequently, medical certificates issued in an EEA country are accepted on board Norwegian-flagged vessels. Based on the regulatory change, Norwegian Authorities are likely reducing the number of NMA approved seafarer’s doctors in EEA countries. Prior to the regulatory change as mentioned above, Section 4 second paragraph in the Health Regulations said as follows:

A medical certificate issued in accordance with the medical certificate requirements of any EEA country satisfies the requirement of the first paragraph when the medical certificate is issued in the home country or most recent country of residence of the person working on board. If the home country or country of residence does not have any requirements for a special medical examination for persons working on board, a declaration form the county’s competent authority shall be accepted as a valid medical certificate if the competant authority has attested complience with the requirements of these Regulations.

As of today, Section 4 second paragraph in the Health Regulations says the following: A medical certificate issued in accordance with the medical certificate requirements of any EEA country satisfies the requirement of the first paragraph of Regulations when the medical certificate is issued in an EEA country.

This implies that the person (seafarer) holding an EEA medical certificate may live anywhere. However, the issuing seafarer’s doctor has to be approved by an EEA country.