S.L. 425.14 Art. 76Medical assistance on board.

(1) Fishing vessels owners shall ensure that at least one fisherman on board is in charge of medical care and for administering medicine as part of his regular duties, or at least one fisherman on board is competent to provide medical first aid.

(2) Save if they are medical doctors, fishermen in charge of medical care on board shall have satisfactorily completed training in medical care and, or medical first aid.

(3) A fisherman has the right to medical treatment on board the fishing vessel, and the right to be taken ashore in a timely manner for medical care and treatment in the event of a work-related injury, any serious injury or illness occurring to him.

(4) When fishermen working on a fishing vessel are on board or outside the jurisdiction of Malta, the fishing vessel owner shall be responsible for the fishermen’s necessary:

(a) health protection; and, or

(b) medical care;

(c) medical support;

(d) medical assistance;

(e) medical treatment; and, or

(f) for their general well-being.

(5) All expenses in relation to this regulation shall be borne by the fishing vessel owner, up to the moment of a fisherman’s repatriation if applicable, unless the relevant medical services are covered by the social security system of Malta or any other public medical service in Malta which would otherwise be available to the concerned fishermen:

Provided that nothing in this sub-regulation shall be construed as being against any right or obligation in the fisherman's work agreement allowing the fisherman access to private medical services at the expense of the fishing vessel owner:

Provided further that anything done according to this regulation shall be at no cost to the fisherman.