1.This Marine Notice serves to advise all shipowners, masters, and relevant maritime personnel that the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji will be conducting checks to ensure that seafarers serving onboard ships hold valid Certificates of Medical Fitness.
2.The purpose of these checks is to ensure that all seafarers serving onboard Fiji ships, and other applicable vessels, are medically fit to safely perform their duties at sea. This is important for the safety of the vessel, the crew, passengers, cargo and the marine environment.
3.Under section 38 of the Maritime Transport Act 2013, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji is empowered to carry out inspections, audits and ship clearance functions to ensure compliance with applicable maritime safety requirements. Section 39 further provides to produce relevant certificates before a ship goes to sea or upon its arrival.
4.In addition, Part 8 of the Maritime (STCW Convention) Regulations 2014 sets out the requirements for medical standards for seafarers. Regulation 66 requires applicable seafarers to hold a valid Certificate of Medical Fitness, while Regulation 69 requires a seafarer to produce his or her valid Certificate of Medical Fitness when requested by the Chief Executive Officer or the master of the vessel. Pursuant to Regulation 5(2) of the Maritime (STCW Convention) Regulations 2014, this requirement extends to fishers or seafarers onboard fishing vessels.
5.Shipowners, operators, and masters are therefore reminded to ensure that all seafarers employed or engaged onboard their vessels hold valid Certificates of Medical Fitness appropriate to their duties and area of operation. Copies of these certificates must be available onboard and produced upon request during inspection or verification by authorised MSAF officers.
6.Any seafarer found serving onboard without a valid Certificate of Medical Fitness may be subject to further regulatory action. Shipowners, operators and masters may also be held responsible for failure to comply with the applicable requirements under Fiji’s maritime laws and regulations.
7.Failure to comply with the above provisions may result in enforcement action, including detention, non-clearance of the vessel, suspension of relevant documents, or other penalties as provided under the Maritime Transport Act 2013 and the Maritime (STCW Convention) Regulations 2014.
8.A period of one week from the date of this Marine Notice is granted to all maritime personnel to obtain or renew a valid Certificate of Medical Fitness where their current certificate has expired, is invalid, or cannot be produced upon request.
9.For any clarification, please contact the Enforcement Compliance Officer, Ms. Atelini Baravilala on abaravilala@msaf.com.fj or 7706390
SEREANA LALAKOBAU
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji
08 June 2026