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Frequently Asked Medical Questions

  • For the Deck Department, the eyesight requirement is either 6/6 in both eyes or 6/9 in the other eye not lower than that.
  • If your eye-sight doesn't match with the required criteria even then you can go for LASIK or ICL and then join the Merchant Navy
    • For Engine Department at least 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye.

 

  • If your eye-sight doesn't match with the required criteria even then you can go for LASIK or ICL and then join the Merchant Navy
    • For ETO, at least 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye.
  • If your eye-sight doesn't match with the required criteria even then you can go for LASIK or ICL and then join the Merchant Navy
Galley Department
      • For Galley Department at least 6/18 in both eye or 6/12 in the better eye and 6/24 in the other eye.
    GP Rating
    • For GP Rating, you need to have at least 6/6 for engine as well as deck side.If your eye-sight doesn't match with the required criteria even then you can go for LASIK or ICL and then join the Merchant Navy

Any color blindness is not permitted in the merchant navy or any department. You can take the color blindness test right now from your home with our Color Blindness Test.

For freshers, the specs are not allowed. Your eyesight should be within the allowed limit set by DG Shipping.

  • For the Deck Department, the eyesight requirement is either 6/6 in both eyes or 6/9 in the other eye not lower than that.
  • For the Engine Department at least 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye.
  • For the Galley Department at least 6/18 in both eyes or 6/12 in the better eye and 6/24 in the other eye.
  • For in-service seafarers, the specs are allowed but only up to a certain extent.

ICL surgery and LASIK are completely acceptable in the merchant navy. You have to make sure that after the treatment your eyesight should be under the following requirements:

  • For the Deck Department, the eyesight requirement is either 6/6 in both eyes or 6/9 in the other eye not lower than that.
  • For the  Engine Department at least 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye.
  • For the Galley Department at least 6/18 in both eyes or 6/12 in the better eye and 6/24 in the other eye.

For the Merchant Navy, the vision is measured, not the power of the eye, so you need to get your eyesight checked with the doctor to check your eligibility in the Merchant Navy. To be eligible for the merchant navy your vision should be under the eligibility criteria which is:

  • For Deck Department, the eyesight requirement is either 6/6 in both eyes or 6/9 in the other eye not lower than that.
  • For the Engine Department at least 6/12 in both eyes or 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other eye.
  • For Galley Department at least 6/18 in both eyes or 6/12 in the better eye and 6/24 in the other eye.

If you have cataract then you need to fix it surgically and then you can join the Merchant Navy provided that there is no complications after the surgery.

If you have squint eye then you need to get it surgically fixed. Without the proper treatment, squint eyes are not allowed in the Merchant Navy.

If you have a problem with eye floaters then you need to get medical certificates from an eye specialist to show in the DG Shipping Medical to pass the medical exam of the merchant navy.

The minimum height for boys is 157cm while for females it is 152cm.
  • If you belong to a hilly region you will get a relaxation of 5cm.
  • You can check the required BMI as well as the required height and weight from our BMI Calculator for the Merchant Navy.

To be eligible for the Merchant Navy, your BMI should be between 18 to 25 which signifies that a person is fit for the service.

 

You can check the required BMI as well as the required height and weight from our BMI Calculator for the Merchant Navy.

The minimum decibel unit by DG Shipping is 40dB, which means that you should be able to hear at least 40dB of sound at all frequencies. 

For in-service seafarers, the hearing eligibility is 70dB. 

Hearing aids are not allowed in the Merchant Navy for seafarers.

To join the Merchant Navy, there should be no speech defects. If you have any, then you can try to get the therapy. 

You can not join the Merchant Navy with a Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. You need to surgically correct it only then you will be eligible to join the Merchant Navy.

You can join the Merchant Navy with Chipped Teeth.

You can join the Merchant Navy even if you don't have complete set of teeth.  

You need to consult with a dentist first and if he tells you that the braces will not create any problem while you are onboard then you can join with the braces.

A deep bite will not result in failing the Merchant Navy medical test. You can join without any problem.

After RCT and capping, there are no limitations for joining the Merchant Navy.

The score with RCT and normal teeth should be at least 14.

You can join the Merchant Navy with hyperhidrosis if there’s no functional limitation. It is not a disqualifying condition.

Vitiligo is allowed in the Merchant Navy unless it is an extensive case of vitiligo as in this case, you may be rejected in the medical.

If you have eczema, then you may have to face rejection in the medical.

It depends on the condition of the skin. If there is severe itchiness or redness on the skin, then you need to get it treated.

Fungal infections must be completely treated before joining the Merchant Navy.

Scars that are completely healed doesn't pose any problem but you should be mentally fit to be eligible for the Merchant Navy.

You can join the Merchant Navy with marks. They are not a disqualifying factor

You need to get it treated only then you will be eligible to join the Merchant Navy.

If there is any kind of fracture that hampers your physical capability then you are unfit to join the Merchant Navy.

You have to wait for it to heal and then you can join the Merchant Navy.

A person with pigeon chest can join the Merchant Navy.

You can join if there are no functional or physical limitations. A fitness certificate from your treating orthopedic surgeon is also required.

If you have spondylitis and there is no pain or physical limitation then you can join the Merchant Navy.

If there is pain while doing day-to-day work then I suggest you to consult with a doctor before appearing for DG Medicals.

A chest expansion won’t disqualify you from joining the Merchant Navy unless it affects your lung function or daily activities.

If the bone spur is not causing any defect and there are no chances of any limitations in future then you can join but with the fitness certificate from the specialist.

If your appendix is removed even then you can join the Merchant Navy. 

Freshers are not allowed to join the ship with Asthma.

  • For in-service seafarers, the asthma should be manageable with medicines and should not hamper the work of the sailor certificate from the concerned doctor.
  • If your asthma is mild and there is no history of attack then you can join the Merchant Navy.

If you hvae pneumonia then you need to get it treated and only after that you can join the Merchant Navy.

You are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy if you have fatty liver. Once it is treated only then you can join the merchant navy.

A person with Hepatitis B cannot join the Merchant Navy. You have to get it treated and only then you can join the Merchant Navy.

You are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy with tuberculosis.
Once your TB is healed then you can go onboard ship, even with TB scars.

If you have your gallbladder removed, you can join the Merchant Navy as long as you are not facing any difficulty in day-to-day tasks.

You can join the Merchant Navy even with Gilbert's Syndrome.

You can not join the Merchant Navy as long as the stone is present in the body. You need to get it treated and only then you will be eligible to join the Merchant Navy.

You cannot join the Merchant Navy till the stone is present in the body. You can take medicines or choose surgery after consulting with your doctor and then you can join the Merchant Navy.

 

  • If your kidney is surgically removed, you are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy.
  • If you have one kidney by birth then you can join the Merchant Navy.

If you are having a problem of swelling in the kidney then you need to get it checked first and get it treated completely, only then you can go onboard ship. 

Nephrotic syndrome has to be treated from a Nephrologist and fitness certificate from Nephrologist is required to be eligible for the merchant navy.

If your kidney is working normally and there is no issue in day-to-day tasks then you can join the Merchant Navy.

Candidates with surgically removed testes cannot join due to the increased risk of future torsion. 

 

  • If you're born with one testicle, there's no issue. However, if one was recently removed or removed in childhood, you'll need a fitness certification.
  • A DG-approved doctor will then assess the cause and impact before making a final decision.

 

 

  • If you have a varicocele, you are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy. You need to get it treated and then you can go for the Merchant Navy Medicals. 
  • After the surgery you will be eligible to join the Merchant Navy provided that there should no post-surgery complications.

If your testicle is removed due to hydrocele even then you can join the Merchant Navy.

You can join the Merchant Navy even after the breast removal surgery

A person with piles cannot join the Merchant Navy. You have to get it treated and then you can go for the medicals. 

You can join the Merchant Navy, if there are no residual defects and no functional limitations resulting from the hypospadias surgery.

The basic requirement is that you should be able to run, walk, sit and do day to day activities without any issues. If you are able to do all that then you are eligible to join the merchant navy.

You cannot join the Merchant Navy with a fractured leg. You have to get it fixed, and then only you can join, provided that the leg that was fractured would not create any physical limitation in day-to-day work. 

Yes, you are eligible to join the Merchant Navy with flat foot.

A person with bow legs can join the Merchant Navy but only if there is no functional limitation due to the bending of the leg.

Even with clubfoot, you are eligible to join the Merchant Navy as long as it doesn't hamper your regular activity.

It depends on the severity of the issue. So, you need to get a fitness certificate from the Orthopedic Surgeon before appearing for the Merchant Navy Medicals.

If you have rod in femur bone then you are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy.

If you have the problem of varicose veins then you are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy. You need to get it treated to be able to join the Merchant Navy.

ACL tear has to be completely treated either from surgery or physiotherapy to be eligible for the Merchant Navy.

If the bone spur is not causing any defect and there are no chances of any limitations in future then you can join but with the fitness certificate from the specialist.


Freshers are not allowed to join the ship with diabetes.

    • For in-service seafarers, if they are dependent on insulin then they can not join but with oral medication, they are eligible.
    • Some companies also have criteria that there should not be more than 3 different salts in oral medication for in-service seafarers.

 

In merchant Navy there is a particular requirement of blood pressure.

  • For fresher, it is below 150/90.
  • For in-service seafarers below 50 years of age, it is below 160/100.
  • For people above 50 years old, it is below 175/100.  

It depends on high high are your cholesterol level. If it is within the allowed limit by DG Shipping then you can join, otherwise, you have to work on it and only then you can go on board.

If someone has vertigo and he is facing issue while climbing or in enclosed spaces then I suggest that he/she should not join the Merchant Navy.

  • You cannot join the Merchant Navy with jaundice. You have to get it treated and then you can go for the DG Shipping Medicals.
  • If the jaundice is genetic and there is no complications then you can join the Merchant Navy.
  • Thyroid conditions must be well-treated and effectively controlled with medication before joining.
  • For in-service seafarers, it should be manageable with medicines only then he can join. 
If you face the problem of paralysis attack then you cannot join the Merchant Navy. If there is history of attack in childhood even then you need to have a fitness certificate from a neurologist and then you can go for the DG Medicals.

A person with Epilepsy cannot join the Merchant Navy.