Guidance

MSN 1905 (M+F) Amendment 5 ships’ medical stores

Updated 28 August 2026

Summary

This notice sets out the minimum requirements for medical stores for the UK Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1802) and the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2821).

This notice covers:

• the definitions of categories of vessel for the purposes of the regulations
• medical stores required and recommended additional equipment for workers: annex 1
• Immediate Response Bag: annex 2
• additional requirements for passenger vessels with no doctor as a member of the crew (the Advanced Treatment Bag, previously called ‘The Doctor’s Bag’): annex 3
• first aid kits – recommendations: annex 4
• advice on medicines to be carried on ships (including ferries) transporting dangerous substances: annex 5
• medical documents to be carried and telemedical advisory services: annex 6
• guide to use of medicines: annex 7
• specimen requisition form for use when obtaining controlled drugs: annex 8
• completion of the controlled drugs register: annex 9

Amendment 5:

• corrects formatting under ‘medicines for external use’ in annex 1
• adds Diazepam, Chlorpromazine hydrochloride and Furosemide back into the Advanced Treatment Bag (annex 3) due to an omission in amendment 4
• clarifies the type of intravenous fluid (Ringers lactate 1 litre) in the Advanced Treatment Bag (annex 3)
• corrects other formatting within the document

1. Introduction/background

1.1 The United Kingdom implemented the requirements of Council Directive 92/29/EEC which sets out the minimum standards for ships’ medical stores, by introducing the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995, as amended by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel (Medical Stores) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (referred to as “the regulations”). In 2019, the new Commission Directive (EU) 2019/1834, updating the technical requirements of the earlier directive, was adopted and the UK took an active part in that review. The regulations become part of UK retained law on the UK’s exit after 1 January 2021. This notice implements the updated requirements for medical stores which reflect developments in medical treatments. It also reflects latest advice on treatment in the 24th edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (published December 2024).

2. Vessel categories

2.1 The categories of vessels and the consequent requirements for medical stores and equipment areas are set out in the regulations.

The vessel categories are:

• Category A: A seagoing ship (including fishing vessels) with no limitation on length of voyage
• Category B: Seagoing or sea-fishing vessels making trips of less than 150 nautical miles from the nearest port that has adequate medical equipment. This category is extended to seagoing or sea-fishing vessels which make trips of less than 175 nautical miles from the nearest port that has adequate medical equipment, and which remain continuously within range of helicopter rescue services
• Category C: Harbour vessels, boats and craft staying very close to shore or with no cabin accommodation other than a wheelhouse

Lifeboats and life-rafts are also required to carry Category C stores. Category C stores for life-rafts are generally purchased in sealed units, which should be replaced as a unit if unused at the expiry date. Other Category C kits may be replenished as items are used (see MGN 524 (M+F)).

The minimum contents of a Category C kit are designed to provide for immediate care where a minor delay is considered acceptable. For some vessels operating within Category C limits, the machinery on board or the type of operation may give rise to risks which this kit is not adequate to treat. If a risk assessment shows that because of the nature of the work on board, or the type or pattern of operation, the range of stores required in a Category C kit may not be adequate to respond to likely medical requirements on board then the owner or master should consider whether a vessel operating less than 60 miles from a safe haven should carry some or all of the additional items marked ‘RA’ (for risk assessment) in column 4C in annex 1.

A copy of the risk assessment should be retained on board to provide evidence that the category of stores and any variations from the recommended quantities of medicines are justified in accordance with regulations made under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

The UK interprets the phrase “very close to shore” as meaning that a vessel operating more than 60 nautical miles from a safe haven would not be operating very close to shore. Notwithstanding this interpretation, it is for owners and skippers, for the purpose of complying with the regulations, to assess whether, in respect of voyages in which the vessel goes less than 60 nautical miles out to sea, the vessel is “very close to shore”.

2.2 The following vessels are excluded from the requirements of this notice:

• inland navigational vessels defined in the regulations as those vessels plying on waters of Categories A to C as defined in MSN 1837 (M) - vessels in Category D waters should carry a Category C medical kit as they operate close to shore
• warships
• pleasure vessels used for non-commercial purposes and not manned by professional crews, defined as follows:

(a) any vessel which at the time it is being used is:

(i) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by –

(aa) an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner; or

(bb) a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons on board are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends; and

(ii) on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner does not receive money for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion; or

b) any vessel wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club, where, in the case of any vessel referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b), no other payments are made by or on behalf of users of the vessel, other than by the owner; and in this definition “immediate family” means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual’s spouse or civil partner; and “relative” means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;

• tugs operating in harbour areas: as defined in the regulations “tug” means a vessel constructed solely for the purpose of, and normally used for providing external motive power to, floating objects or vessels

3. Medical stores requirements

3.1 The requirements and recommended stores are set out in the attached schedules:

• Annex 1: Requirements for Categories A, B & C vessels and recommended additional equipment for workers
• Annex 2: Immediate Response Bag
• Annex 3: Additional requirements for passenger vessels with no doctor as a member of the crew (the Advanced Treatment Bag), previously called ‘The Doctor’s Bag’
• Annex 4: First aid kits
• Annex 5: Advice on medicines to be carried on ships (including ferries) transporting dangerous substances

3.2 A checklist of all the medicines and equipment required by this MSN should be kept on board and reviewed at least annually by a competent person. The MCA does not specify who may be competent to carry out the annual inspection of the stores. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that the medical stores are complete, with no missing items, that all medicines are in good condition and in date. The owner or master may designate a competent person to do this, and it is good practice for this to be someone other than the ship’s officer who has responsibility for the medical stores.

4. Medicines for ships carrying dangerous cargoes

4.1 Ships, including ferries, carrying dangerous cargoes or their residues, should comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the guidance in the IMO/WHO/ILO Medical First Aid Guide for use in accidents involving dangerous goods (MFAG) (current edition) and the guidance in annex 5.

5. Medical guides and telemedical advisory services

5.1 The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide should be referred to for help with diagnosis and treatment. This notice should be kept with the current edition of the guide. Telemedical advice should be sought as appropriate (see annex 6).

6. Ships’ doctors

6.1 All UK registered ships which carry more than 100 persons on an international voyage of 72 hours duration or more must carry a medical practitioner. See MSN 1841 (M). A ship’s doctor may determine their own additional medical supplies, but this does not replace the carriage of the stores listed in this notice (other than annex 2).

7. Responsibilities of the owner, employer and the master

Responsibilities of the owner:

7.1 The owner of the vessel is responsible for the cost of any medicine and medical equipment, including the periodic replacements in order to keep stocks of any required medicines in date and immediately useable.

Under health and safety legislation, seafarers must be trained to carry out their onboard duties. The owner must therefore ensure that the master and any person in charge of medical treatment have the appropriate level of training to use the medical stores and equipment carried under annex 1. This includes any additional training required to use RA items.

Responsibilities of the seafarer’s employer:

7.2 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers, etc.) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1613) part 9, and the Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1106) part 6 specify, among other things, that if a person, while employed in a UK ship receives any surgical, medical, dental or optical treatment (including repair or replacement of any appliance) any costs of this treatment must be paid by the shipowner/fishing vessel owner. See MGN 482 (M) and MGN 586 (F).

Responsibilities of the master:

7.3 Where a United Kingdom ship does not carry a doctor among the seafarers employed in it, section 53 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 holds the master responsible for ensuring that any necessary medical attention given on board ship is given either by him, or under his supervision, by a person appointed by him for that purpose. The master is also responsible for the management of the medical supplies and ensuring that they are maintained in good condition, although the function may be delegated to a trained member of the crew.

Health and safety responsibilities:

7.4 Ship operators, employers and the master all have a duty of care to protect the health and safety of workers, so far as reasonably practicable. This responsibility includes taking steps to minimise the risk of infection and ensuring appropriate preventative measures such as immunisation are taken.

8. More information

Medical Administration Team, Seafarer Safety & Health Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/07
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0)203 81 72835

Email: medical@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.