Maritime Medicine Training Programs for NMA Seafarers & Petroleum Doctors in Bergen Norway
Established in 2004, the Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine and Diving Medicine is the national centre of excellence in maritime and diving medicine in Norway and is part of the Department of Occupational Medicine within Helse Bergen. The aim of the Department is to promote the health and welfare of seafarers and divers.
The centre offer regular courses in maritime medicine for medical doctors and after completing the courses you can apply for certification as seafarer’s doctor, diving doctor or petroleum doctor. They also give lectures for medical and nursing students.
Maritime medicine is a special area. Maritime medicine is not a regular medical specialty, but includes special knowledge in a host of different medical areas and in addition thorough knowledge of the industry and the way it operates is necessary.
Certification of maritime workers, providing medical advice to the maritime industry and to seafarers requires a kind of knowledge and knowhow that is not a part of standard medical curricula. Physicians who want to serve within maritime medicine must supplement their knowledge and skills by attending appropriate courses.
Academic & Training Programs
Maritime & Petroleum Medicine Courses
- Basic Course for Seafarer’s Doctors (3 days): The aim of the course is twofold – general introduction to maritime medicine and education as certified seafarer’s doctor. The course provided by the Norwegian Centre of Maritime and Diving Medicine is approved by the NMA. The new Regulations of 2014 increase the authority and the obligations of the certified seafarer’s doctors, and the course is regarded as important for professional reasons in addition to being a requirement according to the Regulations.
- Basic Course for Petroleum Doctors (2 days): The Basic Course for Petroleum Doctors shall provide necessary competence to be certified and work as a petroleum doctor pursuant to Regulations of 20 December 2010 No 1780 regarding health requirements for persons working on installations in petroleum activities offshore. The course is in accordance with the national curriculum laid down by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The Norwegian Directorate of Health also approves the course.
- Refresher Course for Petroleum Doctors (1 day): For re-approval as a petroleum doctor, participation in a refresher course and passing the course test is necessary. The training aims to maintaining the necessary competence for the continued work as a petroleum doctor in accordance with the Regulations of 20 December 2010 No 1780 regarding health requirements for persons working on installations in petroleum activities offshore. The course is in accordance with the national curriculum laid down by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The Norwegian Directorate of Health also approves the course.