Requirements by Marine Operations Department for
Scientists sailing onboard NMF SEA SYSTEMS
vessels RRS “James Cook” and RRS “Discovery”
NMF Sea Systems provides a professional ship management service to NERC. It operates
the two multi-disciplinary oceanographic research vessels, RRS “James Cook” and RRS
“Discovery” and is based in the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (a joint
enterprise between NERC and the University of Southampton). The remit of NMF Sea
Systems is to provide practical assistance to enable the scientific users to fulfil their research
objectives. The organisation is made up of the professional mariners who take the vessels to
sea and support the scientific parties by providing a working platform and a full suite of ships
fitted scientific systems and a shore-based technical team who manage the portable
equipment from the National Marine Equipment Pool loaded on board for specific cruise
applications. The aim is to provide a comprehensive administration and maintenance service
to support science cruises in the UK.
REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON YOU, AS A SEAFARER, JOINING AN NMF SEA
SYSTEMS VESSEL
It is important to realise these vessels are not passenger vessels and, therefore, that all
personnel who sail on them are classed as seafarers. This includes all of the marine staff,
technical support staff, scientific staff and observers. Therefore, all legislation that applies to
seafarers applies equally to all personnel that sail on the vessels.
1. Medical Requirements
It is a requirement for all cruise participants to be medically fit, to at least the same standard
as required by seafarers – in the UK this standard is called the ‘ENG1’.
Prior to joining the vessel, all personnel must be medically examined and meet the
requirements of the latest UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency Medical Examination
Regulations [the appropriate Merchant Shipping Notice as at 1st January 2010 MSN 1822 (M)
(Revised Medical Standards) – Seafarer Medical Examination System and Medical and
Eyesight Standards: Application of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention)
(Medical Certification) Regulations 2010. Recognition of passing these requirements for
personnel living in the UK is obtained by the issue of an ENG1 medical certificate from an
MCA approved medical practitioner and for non-UK personnel, by a doctor approved by their
own Flag State Administration. The cost of this examination, in the UK, is about £80 and the
individual or the Institution will be required to meet this cost. This certificate is normally valid
for a maximum of two years.
It is very important that individuals take the original medical certificate with them to the vessel
for the Purser to sight. Failure to do so will mean that the individual will not be allowed to sail
on the cruise.
Medical treatment on board is fairly basic –i.e. at First Aid level. There is not a medical doctor
on board, however, the Ship’s Deck Officers are all trained in First Aid and the ships have
extensive First Aid facilities. On board treatment is free but should it become necessary for
you to be treated ashore there may be a charge for treatment and/or medicine involved. If an
individual is taking any prescribed medicine they must ensure that they inform the
Master/Purser as soon as is convenient after they have joined the vessel and certainly before
sailing. Although the vessel does carry some supplies of medicine these are for emergencies
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only and an individual must ensure that they take sufficient supplies of any prescribed drugs
with them that will last for the full duration of the cruise.
For lists of the medical practitioners in UK and Internationally that are able to examine to
ENG1 standard
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/workingatsea/mcgamedicalcertandadvice/mcga-ml5-medicalinfo/mcga-approved-docs-list.htm
Original certificates ONLY are acceptable on board.
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/msn_1822.pdf
Below is a link to a list of countries whose maritime medical certification is acceptable to the
MCGA as an equivalent to the ENG1
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/1815.pdf
A frequently asked question is whether the UKOG (United Kingdom Oil & Gas) medical
certificate can be accepted as an equivalent to the ENG1 medical certificate. The answer to
this is no, the reason being that the UKOG and ENG1 medical examinations are two separate
medicals which serve two different purposes.
The UKOG medical is an employer's medical and its medical standards have been produced
to meet the needs and requirements of the employer. The ENG1 is a statutory medical
examination which is required by law for all seafarers serving in any capacity on board a UK
seagoing vessel.
INSURANCE
Whilst on board an NMF Sea Systems vessel you are covered, by NERC, for all medical
costs. Should an individual have an accident or become ill whilst onboard the vessel and
need to have professional medical attention the Master will arrange, via the ships agent, for
them to see a doctor or to be landed to a hospital. All of the costs of any treatment incurred
on board the vessel will, effectively, be free. However, the cost of transferring an individual
ashore and any hospital / medical cost incurred ashore will be the responsibility of the parent
institute or organisation although the costs will, initially, be met by the ships agent. If an
individual is landed ashore into medical care, NMF Sea Systems will ensure that the parent
institute or organisation is notified as soon as is reasonably possible.
If an individual carries a Medical Insurance Emergency Card the benefit of this will only
become effective once the individual has been disembarked from the vessel. Whilst on board
the vessel the individual is the responsibility of the Master. The parent institute or organisation
may already provide insurance cover. However, it is wise to check with the parent institute or
organisation prior to travelling to make sure cover is in place or to find out if an individual
needs to take out additional cover for going offshore.
2. Dental Requirements
The responsibility for ensuring science participants are dentally fit is that of the Principal
Scientist. Neither the ship nor Marine Operations will ask for evidence. The notes for
scientists joining a cruise are being amended and an updated version should be appearing
within a reasonable time.
The ship has a very limited arrangement, in terms of equipment or trained staff, for dealing
with dental related incidents and the most likely outcome for a serious problem is to divert the
vessel. In this case, all costs would be passed back to the PI. This is why it is very important
that all participants are aware of the need to have appropriate insurance.
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3. Travel Requirements
TRAVEL ADVICE
For travel queries and advice, your questions will be dealt with by the NMF Sea Systems
Operations office at NOCS, once the cruise program has been finalised.
It should be noted that although NMF Sea Systems have a duty of care to all members of the
ships company, including members of the scientific and technical parties whilst on board the
vessel, such duty for the health and safety of non-NMF Sea Systems employees whilst
travelling to and from the vessels lies with the employee centre/survey/employer. The latter
should ensure that their employees are aware of what legislation applies to them and who
owes them a duty of care at each stage of their journey.
For Principal Scientists
3 months before the cruise dates:
• PI to send list of participants to NMF Sea Systems Operations
One month before the cruise
• PI to send RRS 12 (Embarkation) Forms to Operations Office.
Embarkation Form - RRS12 – Prior to joining an NMF Sea Systems vessel, scientific staff
will be required to complete an embarkation form (RRS12) and return it to Chris Wing
(cwin@pml.ac.uk) who will then send it to NMF Sea Systems Operations. This form lists your
Personal Details and forms part of the documentation forwarded to the ship prior to the
commencement of the cruise. It is, therefore, very important that this form is returned to NMF
Sea Systems Operations within the time scale requested. Please ensure that the RRS12 form
is completed fully, accurately and legibly prior to dispatch.
The ship’s Master is required by law to enter onto the Ship’s Articles personal details of
everyone embarked on the vessel.
It is also suggested that details of each participant’s whereabouts are left with the parent
employer in the event of an emergency whilst they are embarked upon a ship
Arrangements for the scientific team’s travel will be co-ordinated by the Principal Scientist.
For all personnel joining in a foreign port, NMF Sea Systems Operations must be advised of
the travel arrangements in advance, in order that the ships agent can meet the scientific party
on arrival at the airport and organise local travel and, if required, local accommodation.
When arriving at the port of embarkation, travel and accommodation costs will, initially, be
paid by the ship’s agent and will be recharged to the parent institute or organisation in due
course. Any individual joining the vessels should, therefore, ensure that they have the agents
name, address and telephone number before they leave the UK.
For leaving the vessel, the ship’s Master/Purser can co-ordinate the transport arrangements
with the ships agent, prior to the vessels arrival in port. If an individual has pre-booked flights
back to the UK they must ensure that they let the Master/Purser know the details well in
advance of the vessels arrival in port at the end of the cruise. This will ensure that the
appropriate transportation arrangements from the vessel to the airport of departure can be
made.
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INSURANCE
Users of NERC vessels should be aware that NERC is a non-insurance body and does not
insure its ships, its staff or the equipment they carry.
Scientific staff are strongly advised to take out travel insurance – similar to when you go
anywhere abroad on holiday – to cover the time taken to travel to the ship and for your
subsequent return home.
For NERC employees, insurance for personal effects is met within your terms and conditions
of employment. Cover is in place – via Chartis - for travel to and from the ship only.
For non-NERC personnel should you require cover for such items, it is your responsibility
to arrange prior to joining the vessel. Should non-NERC employees require personal
insurance for the period they are onboard plus transit to/from the ship they should make their
own arrangements as deemed appropriate by their employer. For volunteer staff, personal
Travel Insurance is required.
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