What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Medicine or nursing with current registration; the required level (doctor or nurse/paramedic) depends on flag, POB and contract (indicative).
- Offshore-medic certification recognised in the project's regime (OEUK/UKCS scheme as reference — indicative per jurisdiction).
- Current advanced life support (ACLS plus ATLS/PHTLS-type trauma care) and BOSIET/offshore medical to live on the unit.
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1-1 Personal survival
- A-VI/1-2 Fire fighting
- A-VI/1-3 First aid
- A-VI/1-4 Pollution prevention
- OPITO BOSIET current
Specific courses
- Maritime telemedicine: protocols with the reference service (TMAS) and the contractor's doctor
- Medevac preparation: stabilisation, packaging and helicopter coordination
- Sick-bay management: expiry control, controlled drugs under lock and records
- Onboard hygiene: potable water, galley and outbreak control with the Camp Boss
Indicative experience
Indicative: 3-5 years of acute care (ER, ICU, prehospital) before the first offshore contract; operators value a record of well-run medevacs.
Observations
On smaller units a nurse/paramedic covers the post with telemedical support; on H2S wells he coordinates with the gas technician. Usually employed by the contractor or a specialist medical firm. Progression: rig medic → fleet lead medic → topside doctor/medical adviser.
What this role does
The sole medical care for a community of 100-200 people hours from a hospital: runs daily clinic and emergencies, stabilises casualties for medevac supported by telemedicine, keeps the sick bay and its pharmacy, performs the programme's alcohol-and-drug testing and takes part in general hygiene (water, food, outbreaks). This clinical calm sustains everyone else's.
Typical watches
- 24/7 availability during the entire boarding shift
Key responsibilities
- Attention to work accidents and common illnesses on board.
- Stabilization and coordination of medical evacuations (MEDEVAC).
- Hygiene inspections in catering, kitchen and drinking water analysis.
- Control of confidential medical records and alcohol/drug testing.
- Management of the clinic's inventory of medications and medical equipment.
Operational scope
- Onboard Clinic/Hospital
- Cover (accidents)
- Heliport (medical transfers)
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.