Navigating colour blindness and your ENG1 medical certificate
If you work in any capacity onboard a commercial ship or other seagoing vessel then you will need to have your physical health assessed and verified with an ENG1 medical certificate. This will include an assessment of any conditions that could impair your physical abilities, including eyesight or colour vision that does not meet the minimum standards.
Colour blindness is listed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as a medical condition that requires further examination and it could affect your ability to obtain an ENG1 medical certificate, but if this applies to you then further tests may be required before you are deemed fit for sea service.
The ENG1 exists to protect your safety and the safety of others, not to present barriers to your career, so here’s everything seafarers like yourself need to know about the colour vision requirements when applying for an ENG1 medical certificate.
What are the ENG1 medical requirements for colour vision?
Every seafarer medical examination will include an eyesight test for distance, colour, and near vision, and your colour vision is assessed with a Isihara plate screening. All onboard personnel are tested using the plates, and if you fail the colour plate test then you will be required to undertake a Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test.
Whilst an Isihara screening assesses your colour vision, the CAD test confirms any type of colour vision loss and identifies its severity, as well as any congenital deficiency. If you pass the CAD test and you have no other medical conditions that present cause for concern, then you will be issued with an unrestricted ENG1 medical certificate.
What happens if I fail the CAD test?
If you do not pass this follow up test, you may be issued with one or more of the following restrictions:
- Not fit for lookout /deck duties.
- Not fit for lookout duties at night.
- No navigational lookout duties (for maritime security officers).
- Not fit for work with colour coded cables or equipment (for Engineers and ETOs).
- Or permanently unfit (deck seafarers must not have any restrictions on lookout duties and those who fail the CAD test will be issued with a Category 4 (Permanently Unfit for sea service).
These restrictions will be decided upon by your medical examiner based upon the results of the CAD test and the duties that you will be undertaking, and your certificate will confirm these results in writing. You can also appeal the decision with the MCA
How can I prepare for the colour vision test?
The best way to prepare for this part of the seafarer medical (and to avoid any surprises) is to have a good understanding of your colour vision in advance and be ready to discuss it with your examiner, so make an effort to do the following before your appointment:
- Attend a pre-screening: Having your colour vision checked by an optician before your Ishihara screening will give you a good idea of the extent of your colour vision deficiency and whether it will present difficulties for you during the medical. It can also help you to feel more prepared and reduce any worries about the unfamiliar Ishihara test. We also offer stand-alone CAD testing if required.
- Be aware of the restrictions: All aids to colour vision, such as chromas or chromagen lenses, are not permitted by the MCA, and those with serious or progressive eye diseases may also not be able to pass the medical examination.
- Know what to bring: If you are colour blind or experience any type of colour vision loss, then you will need to bring your glasses or contact lenses (not colour correction lenses) with you to your appointment, along with the following:
- Any previous ENG1 medical certificate.
- Details of all other medical conditions and any medication you are currently taking.
- A form of photo identification e.g. Passport, Drivers Licence or Seafarers book.
- An application form for a seafarer vision test if the Ishihara screening was conducted separately.
Book your appointment today
The colour vision assessment is just one part of this essential medical, and at Heathrow Medical, we offer the full ENG1 medical examination – including a vision test, urinalysis and audiometry – at our London clinic, so if it’s nearly time for you to renew your certificate then get in touch with us today to book an appointment.