Category: <span>Insights</span>
Crew Wellbeing at Scale: Mental Health and Resilience at Sea
This year’s Seatrade Cruise Global featured a talk on “Crew Wellbeing at Scale: Mental Health and Resilience at Sea,” with experts from VIKAND, Windstar Cruises and Port Medical Management. Crew wellbeing and mental health are no longer peripheral concerns. They sit at the centre of safe operations, retention and guest experience, and operators must treat…
Minor Symptoms, Major Disruption Why Early Intervention Matters in Crew Healthcare
Despite continued advances in maritime medicine, a significant number of crew medical cases still follow a familiar – and largely preventable – pattern. What begins as a manageable issue too often escalates into a situation that affects wellbeing, operational continuity and safety at sea. Across maritime medical data, the most frequently reported conditions are neither…
Exploring 2025 Maritime Medical Emergency Trends from VIKAND Insights
Insights from a Year of Medical Emergencies at Sea Delivering better medical care at sea begins with understanding the unique healthcare challenges faced onboard. VIKAND’s Case Management division manages thousands of incidents each year, providing valuable insight into the causes and outcomes of health events among crew and guests. We recently analysed our 2025 case…
Sliding Doors at Sea: The Operational Impact of Mental Health
We can speak at length about why strong mental health support is a critical lifeline for those working at sea. Instead, consider two nearly identical scenarios where small operational choices lead to entirely different outcomes. Two sister ships depart the same port under identical conditions… They have similar cargo, similar crewing numbers and identical voyage…
VIKANDER Profile: Amy White
This month, we spoke with Amy White, an experienced maritime nurse who joined VIKAND more than a decade ago. Since then, she has progressed into senior leadership and now plays a key role in guiding the organisation’s global medical operations. What do you do in your current role at VIKAND? As Vice President of Medical…
The Power of Familiarity in Maritime Healthcare
While continuity of care is typically considered a principle of good medicine, its measurable health benefits are increasingly supported by clinical evidence. Studies across multiple healthcare systems show that physician continuity is consistently associated with better outcomes, lower utilisation and, in some cases, reduced mortality. For maritime operators managing complex, distributed workforces, there is a…
Pre-Employment Medical Exams are a Strategic Safeguard for Maritime Operations
Why Experience is Still the Foundation of Medicine at Sea Pre-Employment Medical Examinations (PEMEs) have long been an established pillar of maritime safety. They are a proactive safeguard that protects seafarers, supports safe operations and reduces disruptions across the fleet. More than a routine administrative requirement, PEMEs offer valuable insight into the evolving health landscape…
Case Study: Using Telehealth to Manage a Traumatic Finger Amputation at Sea
Overview A 49-year-old male seafarer with no known comorbidities sustained a traumatic amputation of the distal thumb while operating equipment onboard a cargo vessel. Poor weather conditions and restricted port access meant that hospital transfer was not possible for several days. Despite isolation and limited onboard resources, the OneHealth by VIKAND telehealth team provided expert,…
Celebrating 15 Years of Maritime Healthcare Excellence
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…
Human vs. Artificial Intelligence in Maritime Healthcare
Why Experience is Still the Foundation of Medicine at Sea Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping our world, and healthcare is no exception. Algorithms can now interpret medical imaging, identify risk patterns and synthesise vast datasets in seconds. In controlled clinical environments, these tools support better care delivery, but maritime healthcare operates in fundamentally unique conditions.…