Liberia issues notes on medical certificates and practitioners from India

The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued two marine advisory notes, one is referring to the issuance of medical certificates to seafarers aboard Liberian flagged vessels by approved medical practitioners in the Republic of India, and the other is about the registration, and approval of medical practitioners located in India to be authorized by Liberian administration for the issuance of medical certificates to Indian seafarers aboard Liberian flagged vessels.

Requirements for Issuance of Medical Certificates for Seafarers, India

This document has been issued on December 7th, 2022, and is addressed to all shipowners, operators, masters, filing agents, manning agents and medical practitioners.

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to provide information on the issuance of medical certificates to seafarers aboard Liberian flagged vessels by approved medical practitioners in the Republic of India.

The Liberian Administration shall confer recognition to medical practitioners to conduct medical evaluations of seafarers prior to their employment aboard Liberian flagged ships.

This recognition will be granted to medical practitioners who have been reviewed and approved in accordance with the  requirements set forth by the Administration to issue valid Medical Certificates.

These requirements will be communicated directly to the medical practitioners.

This program will commence on 7 January 2023 The Liberian Registry shall maintain an approved list of qualified medical practitioners who are authorized by the Republic of India to carry out medical examinations of seafarers in that country in accordance with STCW 1978, as amended, and MLC 2006.

Medical Examinations of seafarers may only be conducted by those medical practitioners recognized by the Administration; using the format of medical certificate set forth by the Administration from the date of commencement onward.

No action is needed to be taken by the ship owners, operators, or managers at this time.

Filing Agents will be made aware of the requirements of the Medical Certificate form and that only recognized medical practitioners may issue the medical certificates.  

The medical practitioners qualified and authorized by the Republic of India who would like to be recognized by the Liberian Registry must submit to the Seafarers Certification and Documentation Department (SCD) all applicable requirements listed in Marine Advisory 27/2022.  

The SCD Department shall maintain a list of doctors recognized in the Republic of India to perform medical examinations of seafarers and issue valid medical certificates.  

The medical recognition of the seafarers and the medical certificates issued by the doctors recognized in the Republic of India must contain the minimum requirements established in section A-I/9 of the amended STCW 78.

In the future additional countries will be added to this program, and such information shall be disseminated by the Administration.

This guidance is issued in accordance with RLM 108.10.325.3; Regulation I/9 and Section A-I/9 of the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers as amended (1978 SCW Convention, as amended); and in accordance with the Maritime Labor Convention 2006, of the International Labor Organization, and in conformity with rule A-1.2 of the
MLC Convention.

Requirements for the Registration, Review and Approval of Medical Practitioners in India

This document has also been issued on December 7th, 2022, and is addressed to all medical practitioners, filing agents, and seafarers in India.

The purpose of this Notice is to provide further information for the registration, and approval of medical practitioners located in India to be authorized by this Administration for the issuance of medical certificates to Indian seafarers aboard Liberian flagged vessels.

As mentioned in Marine Advisory 26/2022, Liberia will require those medical practitioners who are recognized by the Republic of India and request recognition from the Liberian Registry to submit to the Seafarers Certification and Documentation Department (SCD) their application for approval.  

The SCD Department shall maintain a list of medical practitioners recognized in the Republic of India to perform medical examinations of seafarers and issue valid medical certificates.

To be listed, one must follow these steps:  

1. Via the Administration’s secure platform at https://medicalcertificate.liscr.com/ register the medical practitioner and upload the necessary documents as listed on the platform instructions;

2.  Once logged in to the system, users will be able to access the pages for issuance of medical certificates, as well as instructions as to how the system works.

3. After Registration of the clinic on the platform and starting on 7 January 2023, medical practitioners will have to do the following in order to issue to the seafarer a valid medical certificate for Liberian credentials:

a. Log into the portal

b. Apply to be issued a specific “Serial Number” (can be obtained one at a time, or in bulk units directly on the platform).

c. The Serial Number is to be purchased by the Medical Practitioner, at US$5 per number. These can be purchased directly on the portal and can be bought in bulk quantities (10 units).

d. This Serial Number once issued, is to be written on to the medical certificate:

• If using a Liberian form RLM-105M to be entered into the box per instructions;
• If using a Non-Liberian form, please attach the print out of the Certificate ID (generated by the platform) and/or write the Serial Number on the top right corner of the form as and the corresponding number, a copy of the Serial Number purchase receipt can also be uploaded with the document.  

e. Filing Agents will then have to  enter this number  into SEA System when submitting the seafarer application online.

• Filing Agents should ensure the Serial Number is properly included on the Medical Form application to avoid a US$10 Review Fee being added to the work-order invoice if the Serial Numbers is not included.  

The Liberian Registry shall maintain an approved list of qualified medical practitioners that have registered on the portal and who are also authorized by the Republic of India to carry out medical examinations of seafarers in India in accordance with STCW 1978 as amended and MLC 2006.

Medical Examinations of seafarers may only be conducted by the medical practitioner approved by the Administration; using the guidance and requirements set forth by the Administration, and those medical examinations submitted to the Administration that do not contain the Certificate ID number shall have a fee levied on that application.

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (AVAILABLE ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS):

Requirements for Issuance of Medical Certificates for Seafarers, India

Requirements for the Registration, Review and Approval of Medical Practitioners in India