Maritime Rules Part 34

Medical Standards

Current version of Part 34

Part 34 sets standards of medical fitness for seafarers, including eyesight and colour vision, and prescribes requirements for the conduct of examinations for the issue of certificates of medical fitness.

This Part-is made up of:

  • Subpart A, which applies to:
    • People employing seafarers under 18 on NZ ships outside of restricted limits, or engaging seafarers under 18 in NZ for employment on any ship operating outside restricted limits.
  • Subpart B, which applies to:
    • Applicants for a certificate under Part 32 or the holders of certain certificates under Part 32 (including ring-fenced certificates).
    • Seafarers on New Zealand ships that are passenger ships, or non-passenger ships of 500GT or more, on an international voyage, or that are passenger or non-passenger ships of 45m or more proceeding on a voyage outside restricted limits.
    • Seafarers on ships to which rule 52.1(1) applies.
    • Medical practitioners carrying out medical examinations under Part 34.
  • Subpart C, which applies to:
    • Seafarers on foreign ships in New Zealand Ports that are passenger ships, or non-passenger ships of 500GT or more, engaged on an international voyage. 

Part 34 implements requirements from Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW), and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC).

Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) changes to Part 34 as at March 2017

Part 34 will extend requirements in relation to medical fitness for duty to a wider class of seafarer.

The amendments to Rule 34.20 will have the effect of applying Rule 34.28 to a broader class of seafarer as required by the MLC.

The MLC provides that seafarers must not work on a ship unless they have been certified as medically fit to perform their duties.

STCW medical certificates meet the MLC standard and are an acceptable alternative.

Part 34 sets standards of medical fitness for seafarers, including eyesight and colour vision, and prescribes requirements for the conduct of examinations for the issue of certificates of medical fitness.

Maritime Rules Part 34 [PDF: 224kB, 20 pages]

Materials incorporated by reference in Part 34

This rule was signed by the Minister of Transport on 27 January 2014 and came into force on 1 April 2014.

  • Guidelines on the Medical Examination of Seafarers published on behalf of the International Labour Organization and the International Maritime Organization in 2013.

Download ILO Convention

Getting copies of material incorporated by reference

Some materials can be accessed and viewed free online, other material is subject to copyright and can either be purchased from the original source or viewed as an electronic copy at Maritime New Zealand.

Read more

 

History of Part 34

2019

Amendment

This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments on 13 December 2019.

Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2019 [PDF: 767kB, 15 pages]

2018

Amendment

This Part was amended by STCW-F related amendments 2017. Amendments 10.2, 11.2, 11.3, 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2, 18.2, and 19.2 of the STCW-F – related Amendments 2017 enter into force on March 2023. All other Amendments enter into force March 2018.

STCW-F related amendments 2017 [PDF: 308kB, 14 pages]

2016

Amendment

The amendments are to prescribe medical fitness standards for holders of certificates that are ring-fenced under Part 32.

Maritime Rules SeaCert Amendments 2016 [PDF: 403kB, 15 pages]

2015

Amendment

This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 52 MLC 2015 which was signed off by the Minister on the 1st of December 2015, however did not enter into force until the 9 March 2017.

Maritime Rules Part 52 MLC 2015 [PDF: 766kB, 20 pages]

Amendment

This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2015, in 2015.

Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2015 [PDF: 406kB, 15 pages]

Amendment

This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2014 in 2015.

Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2014 [PDF: 366kB, 18 pages]

2014

New part comes into force

The new Part 34 entered into force on 1 April 2014.

Amendment

The original Part 34, as amended, was revoked and replaced by a new Part 34, made on 27 January 2014.

Part 34: Medical Standards 2014 [PDF: 396kB, 15 pages]

2012

Advisory circular

An advisory circular was published describing Part 34. (SUPERCEDED 13/12/2019).

Advisory circular

An advisory circular was published describing Part 34.

Part 34: Advisory Circular 2012, 1 [PDF: 89kB, 15 pages]

Amendment

This part was amended by Part 31A and Part 32: Amendment 2012, in 2012.

Part 31A and Part 32: Amendment 2012 [PDF: 108kB, 28 pages]

Amendment

This part was amended by Part 34: Amendment 2011, with entry into force dates of 1 April 2011 and 1 January 2012.

Part 34: Amendment 2011 [PDF: 1.12Mb, 28 pages]

2008

Amendment

This part was amended by Maritime (Various Amendments) Rules Part 20-91 in 2008.

Maritime (Various Amendments) Rules 2008 [PDF: 466kB, 69 pages]

2004

Amendment

This part was first amended by Maritime Rules Part 20–90 in 2004.

Maritime Rules Part 20–90 2004 [PDF: 224kB, 44 pages]

1998

Advisory circular

An advisory circular was published describing Part 34.

Part 34: Advisory Circular 1998 [PDF: 1.61Mb, 10 pages]

New part comes into force

Part 34 entered into force on 1 August 1998.

New part signed

Part 34 was signed into law by the Transport Minister on 28 June 1998.

Part 34: Original Rule [PDF: 3.80Mb, 37 pages]