Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations, 2021Part 5 : Medical and Eyesight Examination for Seafarers91. Use of medicines and medical technology |
| (1) | A seafarer may only be declared to be fit, without restrictions or limitations, when they meet all the requirements for medical fitness, visual acuity, hearing, colour vision or lookout duties unaided by medication or medical technology. |
| (2) | Where a seafarer meets the requirements with the use of medication or medical technology, such must be declared by the medical practitioners in the medical certificate with appropriate limitations and restrictions. |
| (3) | If a seafarer is using medication that restrict or limit his or her ability to perform some or all duties of a seafarer a medical examiner may endorse his or her medical certificate or declare the seafarer medically unfit. |
| (4) | Seafarers who use visual aids to meet visual acuity may be deemed to be fit provided— |
| (a) | they carry a separate pair of contact lenses or spectacles; |
| (b) | that colour correcting lenses are not used during the tests and whilst serving onboard a ship. |
| (5) | Hearing aids are not permitted except in the case of serving seafarers who have produced a previous medical fitness certificate issued under these Regulations. |