Every role in the Merchant Navy, from navigating officers on the bridge to engineers in the engine room, requires precise visual judgment for tasks such as reading instruments, identifying navigation lights, and detecting hazards in open waters. Even the slightest visual impairment can compromise crew safety, vessel operations, or maritime compliance.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ‘s medical fitness standards, prescribes strict eyesight requirements to ensure that seafarers are physically capable of performing their duties without risk. These standards form part of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules, 2000, which set specific benchmarks for visual acuity, colour perception, and overall ocular health.
In the Merchant Navy, deck and navigating staff must have unaided distant vision of 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other eye, and engine department personnel require 6/12 in each eye or 6/9 in one eye and 6/18 in the other. Meanwhile, kitchen staff need 6/18 vision in each eye or 6/12 vision in one eye and 6/24 vision in the other.
This guide outlines the updated eyesight criteria in the Merchant Navy for 2026 in general and those for the deck, engine departments, and kitchen. It also covers how eyesight is assessed during Merchant Navy medicals, the best place to get tested before the medical exams, and acceptance criteria for low eyesight, colour blindness, glasses, contact lenses, and LASIK and other surgeries.
This think-piece aims to help aspirants of the Merchant Navy understand the visual standards required to qualify medically and maintain a safe and successful maritime career.
What is the Eyesight Requirement for Merchant Navy?
According to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) medical norms, perfect or near-perfect vision is mandatory for deck and engineering officers, with different limits based on the type of duty. The general rules on minimum vision standards are listed below:
- Distant vision of 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the other eye, without glasses or contact lenses, for deck officers and ratings.
- Normal colour perception (CP-I) is required, tested using the Ishihara test or equivalent.
- Candidates must have myopia of up to -2.5 dioptres or hypermetropia within +2.5 dioptres for deck duties. Slight corrections are accepted for the engineering and catering departments.
- No night blindness, squint, or progressive eye disease is permitted.
Vision Requirements for Deck
The Merchant Navy deck roles demand the following stringent vision standards:
- Minimum unaided distant vision of 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other eye.
- Normal colour vision according to the Ishihara Test Chart.
- Good binocular vision and full field of vision in both eyes.
- No evidence of morbid condition in either eye or eyelid that might be recurring or may worsen with time.
- Normal movement of the eyeballs in all directions and pupils in reaction to moving light and objects.
Vision Requirements for Engine Departments
The eyesight standards of the engine departments are a bit more relaxed, listed here:
- Uncorrected distant vision of 6/12 in each eye or 6/9 in one eye and 6/18 in the other.
- Good binocular vision, including fusion faculty and full field of vision, in both eyes.
- Movement of the eyeballs in all directions.
- Pupils must react normally to light and accommodation.
- No indication of morbid condition in either eye or eyelid that might be recurring or may worsen with time.
- Normal colour vision is required, which is tested by the Ishihara Test Chart.
Vision Requirements for Kitchen
The vision requirements for kitchen staff are much simpler and are listed below:
- Minimal unaided distant vision varies with institutes. Some require 6/6 or 6/9 vision in each eye, while others need 6/18 vision in each eye or 6/12 vision in one eye and 6/24 vision in the other.
- A maximum lens power of 2.5 dioptres.
- Normal colour perception is necessary and should be tested by the Ishihara test chart.
How is Eyesight Checked in Merchant Navy Medicals?
Eyesight assessment for Merchant Navy medicals follows a strict protocol and includes diverse tests, including the Snellen chart test, Ishihara test, slit-lamp exam, and fundus exam, to ensure candidates meet maritime vision standards. The evaluation is conducted only at DG Shipping-approved medical centres in India, under the supervision of certified maritime doctors. Each of these tests is introduced below.
Snellen Chart Test for Distant Vision
In this test, candidates are evaluated for distance vision using a Snellen chart. They read letters on a Snellen chart placed six meters away. Each line corresponds to a vision level (e.g., 6/6, 6/9).
Ishihara Test for Colour Blindness
Colour discrimination is vital for identifying navigation lights, signal flags, and warning indicators. Candidates undergo the Ishihara test, where they view a series of colour-dot plates containing hidden numbers or patterns.
Slit-Lamp Examination
In this test, the candidate rests the chin and forehead on a support while the ophthalmologist shines a thin, high-intensity beam of light into the eye through a slit lamp microscope. The device magnifies the front parts of the eye, including the cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber. The doctor inspects the eyes in detail to detect cataracts, glaucoma, squints, or retinal issues.
Fundus Examination
The fundus examination helps detect retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve damage, or hypertensive changes, which are critical for assessing overall eye health and medical fitness for service.
During a fundus exam, the ophthalmologist examines the back portion of the eye (retina, optic disc, macula, and blood vessels) using an ophthalmoscope. Eye drops are typically used to dilate the pupils, providing a clearer and wider view of internal structures.
Where to Visit to Test Your Eyes before Merchant Navy Recruitment?
Merchant Navy aspirants must get their eyes tested early by a specialist familiar with the respective medical standards as required under DG Shipping rules. The eye checkup should include tests for distance vision, reading vision, colour blindness, and overall eye health.
It is advised to choose a clinic known for its expertise in maritime medical examinations, like Eye7 Eye Hospitals in Delhi. In facilities like these, doctors understand the specific requirements and utilise advanced equipment to identify and address any vision issues well before the final maritime medical exam.
Can You Join Merchant Navy with Low Eyesight?
The answer depends on the type of role you are applying for. Deck officers and navigational roles require unaided distant vision of at least 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, with no colour blindness, as accurate vision is vital for navigation, signal recognition, and lookout duties. Candidates who fail to meet this requirement may be deemed unfit for deck positions.
For engine department or electro-technical roles, slightly lower vision standards may be accepted if the eyesight can be corrected to normal levels with corrective lenses. Even then, the use of contact lenses during duty is generally discouraged due to shipboard safety concerns.
Kitchen staff, however, can have low eyesight and still get accepted. They are even allowed to wear glasses with up to 2.5 dioptres lens power.
Can You Join Merchant Navy if You are Colour Blind?
No, candidates with colour blindness are not eligible to join the Merchant Navy for any navigational or deck officer positions. Accurate colour perception is critical at sea for interpreting colour-coded signals, lights, buoys, navigation markers, and safety warnings, where even a mild deficiency can lead to serious operational errors.
In some cases, individuals with mild colour vision deficiency may still qualify for engine or catering departments, provided their duties do not involve colour-dependent safety tasks. However, such approvals are rare and depend strictly on the examining medical authority’s assessment.
The Ishihara Test is used during the medical examination to detect any form of colour vision deficiency.
Can You Join Merchant Navy with Glasses or Contact Lenses?
This depends on the department.
Candidates with glasses or contact lenses are not eligible to join the deck department. They must meet vision requirements without the use of external aids.
Individuals with glasses can join the engine department and kitchen staff, provided they meet the specified vision standards and achieve 6/6 vision or better.
The engine and kitchen staff can also use contact lenses, but temporarily. Candidates must not be excessively reliant on contacts, as they can cause discomfort or infection in humid, salt-laden environments.
Is LASIK, PRK & Eye Surgery Allowed in Merchant Navy Recruitment?
LASIK, PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy), and other eye surgeries are conditionally permitted in Merchant Navy recruitment, provided they meet the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) medical standards.
Candidates who have undergone refractive surgery must fulfil the following post-surgical requirements to be declared medically fit:
- The candidate must be at least 18 years old at the time of surgery.
- A minimum gap of 6 to 12 months should have passed between the surgery and the medical examination.
- Corneal thickness should exceed 450 microns, and there should be no postoperative complications such as glare, halos, or corneal haze.
- Night vision and contrast sensitivity must remain within normal limits.
- An ophthalmologist must approve the candidate’s eyesight for employment in the Merchant Navy.
Candidates who have had successful LASIK or PRK procedures and meet these optical health parameters are generally considered fit for Engine Department roles, even if they require corrective lenses.
However, Deck Department (navigation) positions often have stricter scrutiny, as perfect distant vision of 6/6 without glasses is critical for lookout duties.
In essence, eye surgery is not an automatic disqualification in Merchant Navy recruitment. It is acceptable only if the eyes have healed completely and vision meets DG Shipping’s prescribed standards.
Note: Refractive surgeries carry risks, including glare and impaired night vision. These side effects are grounds for disqualification.
Resources
- https://www.imu.edu.in/imunew/uploads/files/admissions/2025/Prospectus_07032025.pdf
- https://www.zianshipmanagement.com/ccmc-6-months-catering-course/#Eligibility_Criteria_for_CCMC_Course
- https://imi.edu.in/course/pre-sea-courses/certificate-course-in-maritime-catering-ccmc/
- https://www.merchantnavydecoded.com/eyesight-requirement-for-seafarers/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/certificate-course-maritime-catering-career/
- https://www.mnavynms.com/orientation-course-for-catering-personnel.html
- https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/Content/TrainingCircularsAndGuidlines.aspx