What an ENG1 is, and why you need one
The ENG1 is the MCA Seafarer Medical Certificate. It confirms you are medically fit to work at sea, and it is a legal requirement for professional seafarers on commercial vessels, including yacht crew, under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) and MCA regulations. No captain or crew agency will put you forward for a paid role without one.
It is worth knowing that the ENG1 is a distinct certificate from the ML5, which covers masters and crew on smaller UK inshore and domestic vessels and follows its own separate rules. If you are heading into yacht crewing, deck, interior or engineering, the ENG1 is the one you need. This guide covers the ENG1 only.
For the full background on what the certificate covers and what happens if a doctor has concerns, see our companion guide: ENG1 seafarer medical certificate: everything yacht crew need to know →. This guide focuses on the practical steps to actually get one booked and completed.
Who can issue an ENG1
Only a doctor specifically approved by the MCA to carry out seafarer medicals can issue an ENG1. Your regular GP cannot do this unless they also happen to be on the MCA's approved list. This is different from some other medical certificates, where any GMC-registered doctor can sign off.
Confirm you need one
If you are, or plan to be, paid crew on a commercially operated yacht of any size, deck, interior, or engineering, you need a valid ENG1 before you can start work. You do not need one to sail as an unpaid guest on a privately owned vessel. If you are being paid, even informally, the commercial rules apply.
Find an MCA-approved doctor near you
Search the YachtSync register of MCA-approved ENG1 doctors, which lists approved examiners across the UK and in major overseas yachting hubs including Antibes, Palma, Fort Lauderdale, Antigua, and Monaco. You can also check the official MCA list on gov.uk directly. Approval can lapse, so it is worth confirming the doctor is still current when you book, especially if you found them through a listing rather than the MCA site itself.
Book your appointment
Most approved doctors offer appointments within a few days, though the pre-season rush (broadly February to May) gets busier, so book ahead if you can. When you call or book online, ask what the exam covers, whether the certificate is issued the same day if everything is straightforward, and what the fee will be.
Bring the right documents
Take photo identification, your GP's name and surgery details, a list of any current medications, and your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them (colour-correction lenses are not permitted during the exam). If you are renewing, bring your previous ENG1 certificate too.
What happens during the exam
The appointment typically takes 30 to 40 minutes and is non-invasive. The doctor will:
- Take a medical history: current and past conditions, medications, and any previous ENG1 restrictions
- Check your vision: visual acuity (with correction if you wear glasses or contacts) and colour vision
- Check your hearing: whether you can hear alarms and safety instructions clearly
- Take your blood pressure and assess general cardiovascular health
- Carry out a general physical examination, including a urine sample to screen kidney function and blood sugar
If everything is straightforward, the doctor issues your ENG1 on the day.
If you fail the colour vision screening, it is not automatically game over. The initial test is the Ishihara colour-plate test. If you do not pass it, you are usually referred to a Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test at an approved centre, which assesses colour vision in more detail. Passing the CAD test means an unrestricted ENG1. Not passing it more commonly results in a restriction, most often "not fit for lookout duties at night," rather than a refusal, though the rules are stricter for those training for deck officer roles. Speak to the examining doctor directly about your specific result.
How much an ENG1 costs
The fee an MCA-approved doctor can charge for a standard ENG1 examination in the UK is capped by regulation, currently at £115. That is a maximum, not a fixed price, so some doctors charge less. If the doctor recommends any additional tests, these can cost extra and should be agreed with you before you have them. Always confirm the exact price when you book, since it varies by practice and location, and there is no NHS route to an ENG1: it is a private examination paid directly to the doctor.
How long your ENG1 lasts
For seafarers aged 18 and over, the ENG1 is valid for two years from the date of the examination, and it should be renewed by that anniversary date each time. If you are under 18 (the minimum age to sit the exam is 16), it is valid for one year instead.
That under-18 provision is the only age-based rule that applies to the ENG1 itself. You may come across claims online that seafarers over 65 automatically get a shorter certificate. That reduced-validity rule belongs to the separate ML5 certificate, not the ENG1, so do not assume it applies to you based on age alone. A doctor can still choose to issue a shorter, one-year ENG1 at their own discretion if you have a condition they want to review sooner, but that is a case-by-case medical judgement, not a fixed age cut-off.
Track your ENG1 in YachtSync. Add it once, and you get a reminder before it expires so renewal never becomes a last-minute scramble before joining a new boat. The free tier covers 20 certificates. No card required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get an ENG1 if I fail the colour vision test?
Not automatically, but failing the initial Ishihara colour-plate test does not mean you fail the ENG1 outright. You are usually referred to a CAD test for a more detailed assessment. Passing it gets you a standard ENG1. Not passing it more commonly results in a restriction, such as not being fit for lookout duties at night, rather than a refusal, unless you are training for a deck officer role, where the standards are stricter.
How much does an ENG1 cost?
The fee is capped by UK regulation, currently at £115. Some doctors charge less, and extra tests can add to the cost. Confirm the exact price when you book, as it varies by doctor and location.
How long is an ENG1 valid for?
Two years from the date of the exam if you are 18 or over, renewed on the anniversary date. One year if you are under 18. There is no separate over-65 rule for the ENG1 itself; that belongs to the different ML5 certificate.
Do I need an ENG1 to work on a yacht?
Yes, for any paid crew role on a commercially operated yacht, in any department and regardless of vessel size. You do not need one to sail as an unpaid guest on a privately owned vessel.
Find an MCA-approved ENG1 doctor near you.
Search the full YachtSync register of approved examiners, then track your ENG1 expiry in the app alongside your other crew certificates.
Find ENG1 doctors near youYachtSync is free for crew: 20 certificates, expiry reminders, instant sharing. No card required.
Related guides: ENG1 medical certificate: everything you need to know → · ENG1 equivalent certificates by country → · How to get your STCW certification → · Browse the training directory →