Safety on board ship depends in part on a crew that is physically and mentally capable of performing all duties required, even in emergencies. Safety and health are therefore inextricably linked.
Moreover, in the event of an accident or illness on board, the medical equipment and medical knowledge should be sufficient to ensure that sound medical treatment is provided. 

The Medical Adviser of the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate, a physician with maritime expertise, advises the shipping departments of the inspectorate on such matters and assists the policy department of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. 

A selection of duties

• Drawing up medical standards for sea & inland shipping;
• Arranging re-examinations for sea & inland shipping following previous rejection;
• Arranging interim examinations for sea & inland shipping;
• Appointing medical examiners, including assessment of physicians overseas;
• Optimising medical equipment carried aboard seagoing vessels, and updating the Dutch Medical Guide;
• Participating in international conferences and developing regulations for sea and inland shipping;
• Assessing medical training courses for the merchant shipping and fisheries sectors, and judging practical training in hospitals;
• Participating in and providing advice during investigations into incidents and accidents in the sea and inland shipping sector;
• Conferring with medical consultants on the development of policy on malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus and other illnesses;
• Conferring and advising on the organisation of the Radio Medical Assistance.      

The duties of the medical adviser are performed at the Rotterdam office of the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate. 
The medical adviser's secretary operates from the same office, providing medical examiners with the appropriate forms, processing examination results, answering routine questions from shipowners, shipping companies and crew members, and co-ordinating and mediating in the arrangement of hospital trainings for seafarers.