Seafarer medical: 714n, ENG1 and flag requirements
Verified 22.07.2026 against editions in force
A medical examination confirms a seafarer’s fitness to work on board. There are two parallel systems: the Russian medical certificate under Ministry of Health Order 714n, and medical certificates under the international STCW and MLC standards (including national flag forms – ENG1, NMA and others). Which one you need is set by the vessel flag.
Russian medical (Order 714n)
A medical organisation licensed for occupational pathology and chemical-toxicological testing performs the examination; the final “medical certificate of no contraindications to work on board” is signed by an occupational health physician. Validity is 1 year; if it expires during a voyage it lasts until the next RF port but no more than 3 months. The examination includes a chemical-toxicological test. The procedure covers sea-going and river-sea vessels; for pure inland navigation the requirement is set by Article 27 of the Inland Water Transport Code.
International requirements (STCW I/9, MLC 2006)
STCW Regulation I/9 and MLC 2006 Standard A1.2 set the medical standards and certificate requirements: a maximum of 2 years (1 year for seafarers under 18), a separate colour-vision term of up to 6 years. Indefinite medical certificates do not exist. The certificate is issued by a doctor recognised by the maritime administration.
Which medical for which flag
Sanitary record book (galley)
The personal medical (sanitary) record book is a document separate from the medical certificate. It is required for crew handling food and water on board (cook, steward, galley hand). The electronic version has applied since 01.09.2023, paper books until 01.09.2026.
Normative base
- Russian Ministry of Health Order No. 714n (01.11.2022)
- STCW Convention, Regulation I/9 and Section A-I/9
- MLC 2006, Standard A1.2 (medical certificate)
- UK MCA Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1815 (Amendment 6) – ENG1 equivalence
- Personal medical (sanitary) record book (RF MoH Order No. 90n)
- Russian Inland Water Transport Code (24-FZ), Article 27
Frequently asked questions
How long is a seafarer medical certificate valid?
A Russian Order 714n certificate is valid for 1 year. An international STCW I/9 and MLC 2006 medical certificate lasts up to 2 years (1 year for seafarers under 18), a colour vision certificate up to 6 years. A medical certificate can never be indefinite.
Does the required medical depend on the sailing region?
No – the medical type is set by the vessel flag, not the region. Open registries (Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands) accept the national STCW medical; the UK requires ENG1; Norway an NMA doctor; offshore installations require OEUK.
Is the Russian medical accepted on foreign-flag vessels?
The Order 714n certificate (with an English text) is accepted by most open registries – Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands and others. But each flag decides acceptance by its own medical rules: the UK and Norway do not recognise it, requiring ENG1 or an NMA doctor respectively.
Are the medical certificate and the sanitary record book the same?
No. The medical fitness certificate (Order 714n) is about fitness to work on board. The personal medical (sanitary) record book (Order No. 90n) is a separate document for those handling food and water on board (cook, steward, galley).
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