Category: <span>Insights</span>
VIKANDER Profile: Dave Bull
It’s fitting that Lawrence of Arabia is Welshman, Dave Bull’s, favorite movie for he is an epic kind of gent. The architect of VIKAND’s maritime telehealth solution with collaborators FrontM and Inmarsat, Dave has been on the cusp of operations and management of ever faster-evolving technology for three decades. He likes to say, “Jungle, Snow…
The Benefits of Public Health Training
By David Best, Director of Public Health The role of a Public Health Officer (PHO) onboard a cruise ship these days must feel a little like being the Mandalorian. In case you’re not familiar with the protagonist of the streaming, and captivating, television series, the Mandalorian is a fictional character from the Star Wars franchise.…
Why Wearing Face Masks is Still Important
By David Best, Director of Public Health Aristotle famously wrote, “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” If there was ever a quote most apt at explaining our knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, this would almost certainly be it. In the early weeks and months of the pandemic, the universal scientific guidance…
Sailing the Seas as a Shipboard Paramedic
By Robert Cooper, Writer “I have always sought out challenging environments,” says Ryan Rivers as he explains how he became a VIKAND shipboard paramedic on a commercial fishing vessel that sails the Bering Sea. Singlehandedly treating an array of serious medical issues for an international crew of 140 aboard a fishing trawler during five months…
The Future of Handwashing
By David Best, Director of Public Health The COVID-19 pandemic has been a ‘moment of change’ in the usual handwashing habits for many individuals. A recent study on consumer hand hygiene behavior published by the UK Food Standards Agency noted the pandemic was cited as a direct cause of participants washing their hands for longer,…
From Pungent to Pure: How PYURE Dynamic Protection Transformed Black/Gray Water Odor into Clean Air Onboard
In the maritime industry, it is not unusual to have black and gray water onboard. In fact, they are essential to the overall operation of a vessel. From the water that comes out of the sink to the water that comes out of the toilet, gray and black water play a crucial role in the…
Top Transferable Cruise Ship Public Health Principles for the Maritime Industry
By David Best, Director of Public Health In the book The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” Wise words, indeed, and perhaps advice that many maritime executives might consider in these…
Onboard Medical Careers: What Makes VIKAND Stand Out from Competitors
In a job interview, one of the most frequently asked questions by candidates are “What are the company’s values?” The goal of this question: to assess the culture of the company and determine whether it would be a good fit for them. Due to the negative impact of the pandemic on doctors, nurses, and paramedics,…
Public Health Culture: How Little Things Make a Big Difference
By David Best, Director of Public Health A few years ago, after visiting a ship, my return flight was delayed. To pass the time, I purchased a book written by Malcolm Gladwell entitled “The Tipping Point.” Both brilliant and radical in its conception, Gladwell analyzes that magic moment when ideas, trends, and social behavior cross…
How Public Health Has Impacted Cruise Ship Hotel Operations
With the resumption of cruising comes great responsibility to those who are involved in providing and maintaining the ultimate onboard experience. Professionals from hotel operations, in particular, have been tasked with incorporating innovative solutions to not only comply with requirements aimed at COVID-19 mitigation, but also to ensure they continue to provide their guests with…