This year marks 15 years since the launch of VIKAND – a milestone that reflects our sustained commitment to improving life, health and safety at sea.

The company launched in 2009. At the time, the maritime industry faced a clear gap in onboard medical services paired with growing awareness of how crew and guest health impact safety, operational continuity and risk management.

VIKAND set out to bridge this gap by challenging conventional approaches to maritime healthcare.

Under the leadership of CEO Peter Hult and Dr Bill Heymann, Chief Medical Officer, our organisation grew along with our ambitions. At that time, we rebranded as VIKAND, derived from the Scandinavian phrase “vi kan,” meaning “we can”. This new identity embodied the belief that the future of the maritime industry depended on prioritising human healthcare at sea.

Between 2016 and 2020, VIKAND’s services expanded to include medical management, biomedical services, mental health support, medical escorts and public health expertise. This marked a decisive shift from fragmented, reactive treatment to a more integrated, proactive approach – a transition driven by evidence that connected healthcare systems reduce risk and strengthen resilience.

That philosophy was tested on a global scale in 2020. When COVID-19 disrupted maritime operations worldwide, VIKAND played a key role in supporting cruise partners with public health leadership, training programmes, mental health services and close coordination with operators and authorities. These efforts were recognised with the Seatrade Cruise Supplier of the Year award.

Since 2022, VIKAND has continued to evolve into a truly global organisation aligned around the principle of human sustainability at sea. Today, our global teams support not only cruise ships and superyachts, but also vessels operating across commercial shipping, industrial fishing and offshore sectors. Strategic technology partnerships extend our reach even further, enabling remote healthcare delivery, mental health services, environmental monitoring and predictive health insights.

A defining moment in this journey was the creation of the Seafarer Human Sustainability Declaration, which sets out minimum labour standards focused on wellbeing, dignity and long-term workforce resilience. It represents VIKAND’s emergence as a thought-leader and a clear call for industry-wide accountability.

The scale of VIKAND’s impact today reflects 15 years of consistent progress. Each year, we manage more than 110,000 medical encounters and support thousands of biomedical devices at sea through a global medical network spanning 44 countries and six continents. In 2023, we launched OneHealth by VIKAND, an integrated approach to physical, mental and environmental wellness designed to optimise crew safety and performance. The OneHealth programme reflects a more mature understanding of maritime risk and a continued commitment to advancing care paradigms at sea.

As we celebrate this milestone year, our focus remains firmly on the future. VIKAND proudly serves all maritime segments, advocating for crew welfare and leading the shift from reactive to proactive and predictive healthcare. The VIKAND of tomorrow is an ever-evolving force for good, delivering solutions that push the maritime industry forward, helping operators manage risk, retain talent and sustain the people who make it possible.

We can because we care.