Getting ready for your DG Shipping ILO medical and quietly worried you might be marked “unfit”? You are not alone. Every year, thousands of Indian seafarers walk into an approved centre feeling confident — and walk out shaken by a single line on the form. Here is the reassuring part: most reasons for being declared unfit are either preventable or fixable, if you know them before you sit for the exam.
This guide is written to save you a rejected certificate, a lost joining date, and months of avoidable waiting. We will go through exactly why seafarers fail the DG Shipping / ILO medical, which problems are permanent and which are temporary, and a simple day-by-day plan to walk in prepared.
Quick answer (if you are short on time)
- Most “unfit” results come from blood pressure, blood sugar, vision and colour vision, hearing, weight (BMI) and dental issues — not rare diseases.
- Many of these are temporary and reversible with two to four weeks of preparation.
- A few — like colour blindness for deck roles — are usually permanent, so it pays to know your role’s standard early.
- The single biggest mistake is walking in unprepared and un-checked. A quick pre-screening changes almost everything.
First, what exactly is the DG Shipping ILO medical?
The DG Shipping ILO medical is the mandatory fitness examination every seafarer must clear before joining a ship. It confirms you are physically and mentally fit for life at sea, and it follows the ILO/IMO Guidelines on the Medical Examinations of Seafarers, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), STCW, and India’s updated Medical Examination Rules (2024). It can only be done at a DG Shipping–approved centre by an approved doctor, and the certificate is normally valid for two years (one year if you are under 18 or over 55).
If you want the full step-by-step process, the complete test list and the same-day option, read our detailed guide to the DG Shipping ILO medical in Delhi. This article focuses on the part that actually keeps seafarers up at night — why people are declared unfit, and how not to be one of them.
The real reasons seafarers get declared unfit
In practice, most rejections cluster around a handful of very ordinary, very human issues. Here they are, honestly explained.
1. High blood pressure (hypertension)
This is the most common single reason people get held back. Exam-day nerves, a salty dinner and a sleepless night can push a normal person’s reading into the danger zone. But genuinely uncontrolled blood pressure is a real safety concern on a ship far from a hospital. What helps: check your BP a few weeks in advance, cut salt and caffeine, sleep well the night before, and if you are already on medication, take it as prescribed and carry your records.
2. Uncontrolled blood sugar (diabetes and pre-diabetes)
A high fasting sugar or HbA1c can lead to a “temporary unfit” or a referral. Diabetes is not an automatic disqualifier anymore — well-controlled sugar with a clean record is often accepted — but a suddenly high reading with no control is a problem. What helps: get your fasting sugar and HbA1c tested beforehand, and bring proof of control if you are diabetic.
3. Vision and colour vision defects
Two very different things get confused here. Visual acuity (how sharp your sight is) can usually be corrected with glasses or contacts within allowed limits. Colour vision is the harder one — colour blindness is generally permanent, and for deck and navigation roles it is typically disqualifying because you must reliably read signal lights. Know your role’s standard early. Our note on DG Shipping eyesight requirements explains the exact limits.
4. Hearing loss
Audiometry can surprise people who have spent years around loud machinery. Mild, correctable hearing changes are often manageable; significant loss can lead to a referral. What helps: avoid loud noise exposure and ear-bud overuse in the days before, and treat any active ear infection or wax blockage first.
5. Being overweight (high BMI)
A very high BMI is flagged both on its own and because it often travels with high BP, high sugar and poor lung and heart fitness. This is one of the most fixable reasons — even a few weeks of disciplined diet and walking can move your numbers into range.
6. Dental problems
Seafarers underestimate this one constantly. Untreated cavities, infected teeth or missing teeth that affect biting can get you a “dental unfit,” because you cannot easily visit a dentist mid-voyage. What helps: get a dental check-up and fix pending work before your medical, not after.
7. Heart and ECG abnormalities
An abnormal ECG rhythm, or signs of a past cardiac event, will trigger further evaluation. Some findings are benign and clear on review; others need a specialist opinion. What helps: avoid heavy stimulants before the test and carry any previous cardiac reports.
8. Hernia and recent surgery
An untreated hernia or a recent operation without full recovery is usually a temporary unfit, because heavy lifting and physical strain are part of ship life. Once treated and healed, most candidates clear the re-examination.
9. Infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, TB)
Screening for these is standard. The outcome depends on the condition, the role and the shipping company’s own policy, so this area is nuanced rather than an automatic “no.” An active, untreated chest infection or tuberculosis on the X-ray, however, will hold you back until treated. What helps: treat any current respiratory illness fully before your exam.
10. Lung function, mental health history and the “small” things
Poor spirometry (lung function), a history of epilepsy or serious psychiatric illness, uncontrolled thyroid, skin infections, and even a bad flu on exam day can all affect the result. The lesson is simple: do not sit for your medical while you are actively unwell. A minor illness today can cost you a certificate tomorrow.
Permanent vs temporary: know the difference
Not every “unfit” is the end of the road. Most are temporary. Here is a realistic split:
| Usually temporary / fixable | Often permanent / role-limiting |
|---|---|
| High blood pressure | Colour blindness (deck/navigation roles) |
| High blood sugar (with control) | Severe, non-correctable vision loss |
| High BMI / overweight | Serious uncontrolled heart disease |
| Dental problems | Certain neurological conditions (e.g. epilepsy) |
| Treatable ear/hearing issues | Significant permanent hearing loss |
| Hernia / post-surgery recovery | |
| Active infections and TB (until treated) |
Final fitness is always decided by the examining DG-approved doctor based on your role and the current rules — this table is a general guide, not a ruling.
How to prepare and actually pass: a real plan
3–4 weeks before
- Get a pre-screening done — BP, fasting sugar/HbA1c, vision, and a basic blood panel. This is the step that prevents nasty surprises.
- If your BP, sugar or weight is borderline, start correcting now: less salt and sugar, daily walking, better sleep.
- Fix pending dental work and treat any ear, skin or chest infection.
2–3 days before
- Cut alcohol completely, and go easy on caffeine and heavy, salty food.
- Rest your eyes and ears — avoid long screen time and loud earphones.
- Keep your regular medicines going (do not stop BP or thyroid medication on your own).
On the day
- Sleep well the night before — tiredness raises BP and dulls reflexes.
- Eat light, stay hydrated, and reach the centre calm and on time (rushing spikes your BP).
- Carry all past medical records, previous fitness certificates and your ID.
How long is the certificate valid?
A standard DG Shipping ILO medical certificate is valid for two years. If you are under 18 or over 55, it is usually valid for one year. Plan your renewal a few weeks before it expires — never let it lapse right before a joining date.
Documents to carry
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / passport / CDC).
- Your previous medical fitness certificate, if any.
- Records of any ongoing condition or medication (BP, diabetes, thyroid, past surgery, cardiac reports).
- Spectacles or contact lenses, if you use them.
Why the centre you choose makes a difference
A good DG Shipping–approved centre does more than tick boxes. It runs all your tests under one roof, gives you an honest pre-check so nothing catches you off guard, and turns your certificate around the same day so you never miss a joining date. That combination — accurate, fast and genuinely helpful — is exactly what saves seafarers from an avoidable “unfit.”
At Edge Imaging & Diagnostics in West Delhi, seafarers get their complete DG Shipping ILO medical done by a DG-approved doctor, all tests in a single visit, with same-day reports and transparent pricing. If you have a borderline reading or an old condition you are unsure about, message us first — a quick pre-check is far cheaper than a lost contract.
📩 Message us on WhatsApp for your DG Shipping ILO medical | Call 9555999960
Frequently asked questions
Can I retake the DG Shipping medical if I am declared unfit?
Yes. Most “unfit” results are temporary. Once the underlying issue is treated or controlled — say your blood pressure or sugar is back in range, or a dental or hernia problem is fixed — you can be re-examined. Permanent issues like colour blindness for deck roles are the exception.
Is diabetes an automatic rejection?
No. Well-controlled diabetes with good records is often accepted. An uncontrolled, suddenly high reading with no evidence of management is what causes problems. Bring proof of control.
Does high blood pressure on the day mean I fail?
Not necessarily. A single nervous, exam-day spike is common and can sometimes be re-checked. Persistently high, uncontrolled BP is the real concern. Prepare in advance and stay calm on the day.
Can I pass with glasses or contact lenses?
For visual sharpness, usually yes — corrected vision within the allowed limits is accepted for most roles. Colour vision is separate and cannot be “corrected,” so check your role’s requirement early.
How soon can I get my certificate?
At an approved centre with all tests in-house, a fit certificate is typically issued the same day. Referrals or borderline results may take longer.
The bottom line
Being declared unfit is rarely about bad luck — it is almost always about walking in un-prepared. Know the common reasons, get a simple pre-check, fix what is fixable, and time your medical for when you are genuinely well. Do that, and the DG Shipping ILO medical stops being something to fear and becomes just another box, ticked, on your way back to sea.
Medically reviewed by the DG Shipping–approved medical team at Edge Imaging & Diagnostics, West Delhi — a NABH-accredited diagnostic centre offering complete seafarer medicals under one roof. This article is for general information and does not replace your examining doctor’s assessment. Last updated: 2026.