become a ship's doctor

Questions and answers about working as a ship's doctor

become a ship's doctor

Der Weg zum Schiffsarzt ist nicht kompliziert. Wir zeigen hier einen vier Punkte Plan auf, wie Sie Schiffsarzt werden können. Grundsätzlich empfehlen wir auf alle Fälle den Besuch eines Schiffsarztkurs, um sich bestmöglich auf den Einsatz als Schiffsarzt vorbereiten zu können.

Where can I apply to become a ship's doctor on a cruise ship?

You can apply directly to the shipping companies. However, this approach is often unsuccessful, as you will frequently receive no response. We recommend that you register in our ship's doctor directory. You will then receive regular offers for ship's doctor positions.

What qualifications are required to work as a ship's doctor?

Requirements vary greatly from shipping company to shipping company, type of cruise ship, duration and area of deployment, and individual factors on board. Ideally, you are a general practitioner or emergency physician. However, as a surgeon or anesthesiologist, you also have a good chance of working as a ship's doctor. You should have the following qualifications:

  • Completed medical degree and license to practice medicine (national).
  • Specialization or relevant experience in emergency/general medicine or maritime medicine (optional, but advantageous).

Maritime Specific Qualifications

  • MFAS certificate (Medical First Aid and Safety at Sea) or equivalent training in medical care on board.
  • STCW basic qualifications (Basic Safety Training): e.g., personal safety, firefighting, rescue measures, first aid.
  • Maritime medical examination/seafarer's medical certificate (required depending on the flag state).

Additional skills that are often in demand

  • Language skills (e.g., medical-level English).
  • Experience on board or in emergency medical care (cutter/Boolean, offshore, cruise, merchant shipping).
  • Knowledge of medical documentation, telemedicine, medication management at sea.

Typischer Karriereweg
1)  Complete medical studies and obtain a license to practice medicine.
2)  Gain relevant clinical experience (general, emergency, and intensive care medicine).
3)  Complete MFAS/MFAS-like maritime medicine training.
4)  Obtain STCW basic certificates.
5)  Depending on the flag: Apply for a seafarer's medical certificate.
6) Registration in the ship's doctor directory

 

What do I earn as a ship's doctor?

The remuneration for the ship's doctor generally depends on these four factors:

  1. Type and duration of deployment
  2. Whether you are employed as a senior or junior physician
  3. Type of employment, e.g., permanent position, locum doctor, etc.
  4. Your experience as a ship's doctor or your negotiating skills

Generally speaking, junior doctors earn from €7,500 per month. Senior doctors should earn no less than €9,000 per month. However, it is not unusual for them to earn €10,000 or more per month.

In addition, travel expenses to and from the ship are usually paid. Furthermore, the ship's doctor can usually take an accompanying person with them in their cabin free of charge or at a greatly reduced price.

 

How am I insured as a ship's doctor?

This is a very complicated issue, which we cover in a separate lecture during our ship's doctor courses. Basically, you are insured through the shipping company. However, there are a few important criteria that you need to consider, such as which flag the cruise ship sails under and what your position as ship's doctor is.

Professional liability insurance for medical professionals, or medical malpractice insurance, is mandatory. It is important that you check before taking up a position as a ship's doctor whether this activity is covered and how high the liability sum is.

  

What is the rank of the ship's doctor on a cruise ship?

The ship's doctor has the rank of an officer and wears three to three and a half stripes on his shoulders. This rank is comparable to that of first officer or staff captain. The ship's doctor usually reports directly to the captain and works very closely with him.

Do I work alone as a ship's doctor on a cruise ship?

That depends primarily on the size of the cruise ship and the area of operation. On small ships, especially expedition ships, you may be the only ship's doctor. However, that is not the norm. On medium to large ships, you will work in a team with at least one other doctor and 1-4 highly experienced nurses.

Where can I find international literature on maritime medicine?

Below, we have compiled a short list* of international literature on maritime medicine for you:

  1. Zhang Z, Ye Q, Song H et al. The structure of customer satisfaction with cruise-line services: an empirical investigation based on online word of mouth. Current Issues in Tourism 2015;18(5):450-464
  2. Castillo-Manzano JI, Lopez-Valpuesta L, Alanis FJ. Tourism managers' view of the economic impact of cruise traffic. Current Issues in Tourism 2015; 18(7):701-705
  3. Papathanassis A. (Ed.) Cruise Sector Growth. Managing Emerging Markets, Human Resources, Processes and Systems. Gabler GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden 2013
  4. Dahl E. Medical Practice During a World Cruise: a Descriptive Epidemiological Study of Injury and Illness Among Passengers and Crew. Internat Marit Health 2005; 56:1-4
  5. Dahl E. Cruise Doctors Qualifications - The Luck Factor. IMHA Newsletter 2015 (04):16/28
  6. Peake DE, Gray CL, Ludwig MR. Descriptive Epidemiology of Injury and Illness Among Cruise Ship Passengers. Ann Emergency Med 1999; 33(1):67–72
  7. Prina DL, Orazi UN, Weber RE. Evaluation of Emergency Air Evacuation of Critically Ill Patients from Cruise Ships. Journal of Travel Medicine 2001; 8:285–292
  8. Dahl E. Acute chest pain on cruise ships. International maritime health, 2015;66(1):4-5
  9. Antonio J, Neri MD, Elaine H et al. Passenger Behaviors During Norovirus Outbreaks on Cruise Ships. Journal of Travel Medicine 2008(3);172-176
  10. Millman AJ, Kornylo DK, Lafond Ket al. Influenza Outbreaks Among Passengers and Crew on Two Cruise Ships: A Recent Account of Preparedness and Response to an Ever‐Present Challenge. Journal of Travel Medicine 2015
  11. Liu B, Pennington-Gray L. Understanding the Cruise Industry’s Responses to Health-Related Crises: A Case Study Approach. 2015: scholarworks.umass.edu
  12. Dahl E. Cruise ship doctor: demands and challenges versus qualifications and training. International maritime health 2009;60(1-2):33-35
  13. Bansal V, Fortlage D, Lee JG, et al. (2007) Significant Injury in Cruise Ships. Am J Prevent Med 33: 219–2

* The list does not claim to be exhaustive, but is intended to serve as a small selection from the extensive literature available.

Here you will find questions that we are frequently asked about working as a ship's doctor.

become a ship's doctor

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