Ukraine Introduces New Medical Certificate Forms for Seafarers Under Ministry Order 1793

Ukraine's Ministry of Health has implemented new medical documentation requirements for maritime professionals through Order No. 1793, registered with the Ministry of Justice on January 22, 2026. The regulation establishes updated forms for seafarer medical certificates and inland waterway vessel fitness declarations, replacing documentation standards that had been in place for over a decade.

The new medical certificate framework covers both ocean-going vessels operating under international conventions and domestic inland waterway operations. Industry sources indicate the changes align Ukrainian medical certification processes with evolving international maritime health standards, particularly addressing post-pandemic health screening protocols that have become standard across major shipping nations.

The updated documentation requirements take effect immediately for all new medical examinations conducted by authorized maritime medical centers across Ukraine. Existing valid certificates remain recognized during their current validity periods, providing a transition window for the estimated 80,000 active Ukrainian seafarers currently employed on international vessels.

Maritime medical practitioners have noted the streamlined certification process includes enhanced digital verification capabilities, addressing longstanding concerns about document authentication that have occasionally delayed crew changes at international ports. The regulation appears designed to strengthen Ukraine's position in global crewing markets while maintaining compliance with International Labour Organization maritime health standards.