The Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2018

Reporting of medical conditions

9.—(1) A person who is a fisherman who holds a medical fitness certificate and who—

(a) is, or is likely to be, absent from work for a period of thirty days or more due to a medical condition; or

(b) develops a significant medical condition,

must report that medical condition as soon as practicable.

(2) A report made in accordance with paragraph (1) must be made—

(a) in the case of a person who has been issued with a medical fitness certificate, to the authority which issued that certificate;

(b) in any other case, to a medical practitioner.

(3) If a fisherman must make the report required by paragraph (1), the validity of that fisherman’s medical fitness certificate is suspended from the date on which it first becomes practicable for that fisherman to make the report until the date (if any) on which a medical practitioner or the authority (as appropriate) has assessed, if necessary by conducting a medical examination of the fisherman, that the fisherman is fit having regard to the medical standards specified by the Secretary of State in Merchant Shipping Notice 1886.

(4) In this regulation “medical condition” includes both injury and illness, and a significant medical condition is one which adversely affects or is reasonably likely adversely to affect the fisherman’s ability to perform the duties that the fisherman will carry out at sea, including the fisherman’s ability to undertake emergency duties.