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.
Do you have reduced hearing or a hearing aid, and need a seafarer medical or an offshore certificate? Here are the hearing standards from the Danish Maritime Authority, the ILO and IMO and the Norwegian health requirements, and what they mean in practice.
For seafarers, the hearing standards are in annex 2 to the Danish Maritime Authority's order on medical examination of seafarers and fishers (BEK no. 1463 of 2023). Hearing is measured without a hearing aid. A hearing aid can be accepted for serving seafarers, but only where it has been confirmed that you can carry out your duties safely.
On the Norwegian shelf, hearing must not be reduced more than that you can perceive safety-critical sound alarms and speech. The County Governor of Rogaland states that hearing loss requires use of a hearing aid and normal speech perception.
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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.
| What | Requirement in annex 2 |
|---|---|
| Better ear | An average of at least 30 dB without a hearing aid |
| Less good ear | An average of at least 40 dB without a hearing aid |
| Frequencies | 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hz |
| Deck and bridge | Must be able to hear whispered speech at 4 metres |
The order states that 30 dB and 40 dB roughly correspond to hearing speech at 3 and 2 metres respectively. The ILO and IMO guidelines use the same thresholds, and recommend that deck and bridge staff can hear whispered speech at 3 metres. The Danish order says 4 metres.
The ILO and IMO state that if noise-induced hearing loss is assessed as part of a health surveillance programme, different criteria and test methods are used than for the medical certificate itself.
Under annex 2, serving seafarers can only use a hearing aid where it has been confirmed that they can safely and effectively perform the routine and emergency duties required of them on board throughout the period of the medical certificate. The ILO and IMO guidelines add:
If you use a hearing aid to meet the standards, you must use it at work and always have a spare on board (BEK section 30). Bring your hearing aid to the examination.
The Danish Maritime Authority can deviate from the hearing standards in annex 2 based on a statement from an ear, nose and throat specialist who has assessed your hearing, and can then issue a new medical certificate (BEK section 11(3)). 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 that hearing is not reduced more than that safety-critical sound alarms and spoken information can be perceived. The County Governor of Rogaland states that hearing loss requires use of a hearing aid and normal speech perception. If you have a condition that may be a safety risk, the petroleum doctor can apply to the County Governor for an exemption.
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 2, ILO and IMO, Guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers, appendix B, 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.
An average of at least 30 dB without a hearing aid in the better ear and 40 dB in the less good ear, measured at 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hz. Under the Danish rules, deck and bridge staff must hear whispered speech at 4 metres.
Serving seafarers can use a hearing aid where it has been confirmed that they can perform their routine and emergency duties safely throughout the validity period. You must always have a spare on board.
The County Governor of Rogaland states that hearing loss requires use of a hearing aid and normal speech perception.
A pure tone audiometer is recommended. Validated speech recognition tests can also be used, and speech and whisper tests can be used for a rapid assessment.
The Danish Maritime Authority can deviate from the standard based on a statement from an ear, nose and throat specialist and issue a new certificate.
Seafarer and petroleum doctor with more than 20,000 medical examinations. OEUK-approved since 2006 and approved in Denmark, Norway, the UK and Sweden.