The issue of mandatory retirement is reviewed in the context of a physically arduous task with major implications for the safety of both life and property (marine surveying). The main physiological factor limiting the inspections of vessels and cargo is the individual's aerobic power. Over an eight-hour shift, the net energy expenditure can amount to 4 megajoule (MJ), equivalent to 37% of aerobic power for an unfit 65-year-old employee. It is argued that the majority of marine surveyors should retire at about the age of 65 years, on grounds of (1) heavy physical demand, (2) ensuring continuity of operations through the recruitment of young, formally trained employees, and (3) public safety in the face of growing time pressures and a rapidly changing technology. Nevertheless, careful physiological tests may distinguish exceptional individuals who can continue with their work for a longer period.