# Do Tankers or Freight Ships use Medical personnel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [December 18, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619 "2019-12-18T20:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/1 "2019-12-18T20:03:09Z")
Just joined this site trying to see if there is a need for medical personnel (nurse, medic, or doc) on ships? If so what would a person have to do to get a job? Have a masters degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with emphasis in Emergency Medicine/Trauma. Spent 5 1/2 years Navy then the rest in Air Force with two deployments to Iraq. Working fulltime in VA ER but would like to try working on a ship or oil platform. Thanks for any information! ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/2 "2019-12-18T20:13:05Z")
You military time would make you a good candidate for MSC. [https://sealiftcommand.com/departments/medical/medical-services-officer/34](https://sealiftcommand.com/departments/medical/medical-services-officer/34) ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/3 "2019-12-18T20:29:19Z")
Thank you for the information, much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/4 "2019-12-18T21:30:49Z")
The UK rules were a doctor was required if there were more than 12 passengers or 100 crew. Below that they were left to my tender administrations. One look at me pulling on rubber gloves over large and scarred hands was usually enough to create a Lazarus like moment. Paramedics are normally carried on rigs, dive and construction support vessels and seismic vessels where there are large numbers of personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/5 "2019-12-18T21:48:22Z")
You’re welcome. With your ER background, you might want to have a look at the USNS Comfort in the MSC fleet. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/6 "2019-12-18T21:49:59Z")
MSC, possibly cruise ships, and oil platforms. Commercial vessels don’t generally carry medical staff. ---
**Author:** ![shipengr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/shipengr/32/485_2.png) [@shipengr](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/shipengr)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/7 "2019-12-18T22:09:11Z")
If you want a good even time rotation (21 days on / 21 days off) then take a look at drilling companies in the Gulf of Mexico (Transocean/Seadrill/Valaris/Noble). All of the drillships carry a Medic. You’d have to verify the qualifications required, but it sounds like you’re more than covered. ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/8 "2019-12-18T22:35:43Z")
Thank you ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/9 "2019-12-18T22:38:53Z")
Cruise ships…not a fan of snotty nose kids and their parents so that wouldn’t work. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/10 "2019-12-18T22:40:38Z")
That would be a great rotation 21 on and 21 off. Will take a look at those companies and appreciate the information! ---
**Author:** ![z.captain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b782af/32.png) [@z.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/z.captain)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/11 "2019-12-18T22:46:13Z")
Perfect candidate for MSC or an MSC contracted ship. Crowley, TOTE, Maersk, all operate MSC ships. ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/12 "2019-12-18T23:01:50Z")
Thank you for the information! ---
**Author:** ![oakley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/94ad74/32.png) [@oakley23](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/oakley23)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/13 "2019-12-18T23:31:49Z")
Try Transocean as a medic if you don’t want to be stuck out at sea forever with MSC. [www.deepwater.com](http://www.deepwater.com) ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/14 "2019-12-18T23:35:30Z")
That is one thing to consider about MSC. The rotations are brutal. It doesn’t work for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/15 "2019-12-19T01:05:41Z")
Will do, thank you ---
**Author:** ![VETCO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VETCO](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/VETCO)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/16 "2019-12-19T01:06:27Z")
How brutal are the rotations at sea? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/17 "2019-12-19T01:29:10Z")
From personal experience, master/officer, 3 months on/1off rotation; Sorry, it’s been a while and I don’t remember the medical staff rotation schedule . ---
**Author:** ![Griffbm3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@Griffbm3](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Griffbm3)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/18 "2019-12-19T01:50:31Z")
Please PM directly and I can help with some insight. Not a recruiter. ---
**Author:** ![oakley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/94ad74/32.png) [@oakley23](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/oakley23)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/19 "2019-12-19T03:04:24Z")
I thought MSC had a minimum 4 month tour with 30 days vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Slick\_cam1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/slick_cam1/32/817_2.png) [@Slick\_cam1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Slick_cam1)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619/20 "2019-12-19T08:52:56Z")
Last I checked it was 4 months on, 30 days off paid, then back onboard for another 4 months. Some mention was made of a concession by MSC that you could take up to an additional 30 days off, unpaid, after the 30 days of paid vacation. Otherwise, back to the ship. Whoever puts up with these idiotic schedules, I feel for them. [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/do-tankers-or-freight-ships-use-medical-personnel/53619.md?page=2)