Offshore Medicals is run by Dr Helle Wibe
Seafarer and petroleum doctor with more than 20,000 medical examinations. OEUK-approved since 2006 and approved in Denmark, Norway, the UK and Sweden.
Are you colour blind, or do you wear glasses or lenses, and need a seafarer medical or an offshore certificate? Here are the eyesight standards set by the Danish Maritime Authority, the ILO and IMO, and the Norwegian health requirements.
For seafarers on Danish ships, the eyesight standards are in annex 1 to the Danish Maritime Authority's order on medical examination of seafarers and fishers (BEK no. 1463 of 2023). The figures are the same as in STCW Code table A-I/9. The standard depends on your duties on board: deck and lookout have the strictest standard, engine and radio slightly less strict.
On the Norwegian shelf, visual acuity must be at least 0.1 without glasses or lenses, with a normal visual field in at least one eye. The Norwegian health requirements regulation does not mention colour vision in its eyesight requirements.
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Seafarer medical certificate (STCW) DKK 1,035. Norwegian Health Certificate DKK 1,580. Prices incl. VAT.
Need an appointment today? Call +45 70 60 33 38.
Values are in Snellen decimal notation, the figure that tells how much of the eye chart you can read. 1.0 is normal vision.
| Duties on board | Distance vision, corrected | Uncorrected | Colour vision (CIE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters, deck officers and ratings on lookout | 0.5 in the better eye and 0.5 in the other | 0.1 | Standard 1 or 2 |
| Engineer officers, electro-technical officers and engine-room watch ratings | 0.4 in each eye, both eyes together at least 0.4 | 0.1 | Standard 1, 2 or 3 |
| GMDSS radio operators | 0.4 in each eye | 0.1 | Standard 1, 2 or 3 |
For deck and lookout, a value of at least 0.7 in one eye is recommended to reduce the risk of undetected eye disease. There are also standards for visual fields, night vision and double vision, and deck requires normal visual fields.
The colour vision standard follows the International Commission on Illumination's recommendation for transport (CIE-143). The ILO and IMO guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers describe how it is tested:
The standard differs for deck and engine, see the table. Whether your colour vision meets standard 1, 2 or 3 is decided at the examination. According to the ILO and IMO guidelines, the part of an STCW medical certificate that relates to colour vision can remain in force for up to 6 years.
The Danish Maritime Authority can deviate from the eyesight standards in annex 1 based on a statement from an eye specialist who has assessed your vision, and can then issue a new medical certificate (BEK section 11(3)). The seafarer doctor can also issue a certificate with limitations, for example on duties. If you disagree with the result, you can appeal to the Danish Maritime Appeals Board. Read more in the guide if you are found unfit.
The Norwegian health requirements regulation (section 11) requires visual acuity good enough to work safely on an installation, and a normal visual field in at least one eye. The County Governor of Rogaland states that visual acuity must be at least 0.1 without glasses or lenses. That is not your glasses prescription, but the figure for how much of the eye chart you can see. If you wear contact lenses around the clock, the uncorrected requirement does not apply.
A British OEUK certificate is also accepted for work on the Norwegian shelf, according to the County Governor. Read more in the guide Norwegian health certificate: medical conditions.
Prices include VAT and are also on the price list. The clinic is at Smørpøtvej 9, Esbjerg Ø.
DKK 1,035
Eyesight, colour vision and hearing to the Danish Maritime Authority annexes.
DKK 625
For the Danish yachtmaster licence (3rd grade). About 15 min.
Sources: Danish Maritime Authority, BEK no. 1463 of 5 December 2023, sections 11 and 30 and annex 1, ILO and IMO, Guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers, section on validity and appendix A, Norwegian regulation on health requirements for persons working on petroleum installations offshore, section 11 and County Governor of Rogaland, Helseerklæring offshore. Read September 2026. This page is practical guidance and does not replace the doctor's assessment on the day.
It depends on the degree and on your duties on board. Deck and lookout require CIE standard 1 or 2, while engine and GMDSS radio require standard 1, 2 or 3. Whether you meet the standard is decided at the examination.
At least 0.5 in each eye with glasses or lenses and at least 0.1 without. At least 0.7 in one eye is also recommended.
No. According to the ILO and IMO guidelines, colour-correcting lenses invalidate the test result and must not be used.
The Norwegian health requirements regulation, section 11, sets requirements for visual acuity and visual field, but does not mention colour vision.
The Danish Maritime Authority can deviate from the standard based on a statement from an eye specialist, and the seafarer doctor can issue a certificate with limitations.
Seafarer and petroleum doctor with more than 20,000 medical examinations. OEUK-approved since 2006 and approved in Denmark, Norway, the UK and Sweden.