As 2025 draws to a close, let’s examine what shifted in maritime healthcare and what still requires a concerted effort from stakeholders. This was a year of genuine progress, yet it also raised questions on how far the industry is willing to go to make wellbeing a strategic priority rather than an aspiration.

One clear change has been the maturing acceptance of healthcare at sea. Discussions that once focused narrowly on cost have broadened into a more informed appreciation of prevention – particularly in mental health.

The interdependence between a crew member’s emotional resilience, physical fitness and working environment is now widely acknowledged. Healthier crews are important for a number of reasons. Better wellbeing reduces risk, improves judgement and supports a more stable and efficient vessel, but more importantly, crew members deserve our care. They are the backbone of our industry and an indispensable part of any operator’s team. Prioritising their wellbeing should be the default standard.

The insurance market supports this shift, as underwriters increasingly adopt the OneHealth approach and support operators that invest in comprehensive healthcare programmes. They see the value not only in reducing claims but in strengthening performance. While this momentum is encouraging, the test will be whether it can sustain under external pressures.

Regulatory changes are also on the horizon. New STCW amendments that explicitly address bullying and harassment come into force on 1 January 2026. These updates are welcome, but they are only a starting point.

Rules alone cannot correct the root causes of these issues. Without improvements in leadership, communication and respect onboard, compliance risks becoming procedural rather than transformative. Companies will need to decide whether these standards become embedded in culture or mere administrative requirements.

Technology has followed a similar pattern of enthusiasm mixed with caution. There is no shortage of innovation, yet not every tool offers meaningful value. Maritime healthcare is complex and does not benefit from unnecessary platforms or novelty features. As operators become more selective, they need solutions that genuinely enhance care and reduce risk. Our role is to act as an extension of our partners’ medical operations, introducing technology only when it truly strengthens capabilities.

Data and insights have become increasingly central to that effort. Reliable information allows us to identify patterns early, support risk mitigation and deepen partnership planning. This is where we see healthcare trending from reactive to predictive.

With the state of healthcare at sea moving in the right direction, the challenge now is sustaining this trajectory. If we continue to align wellbeing with operational excellence, we can build a safer, healthier and more resilient future for seafarers worldwide.

In this edition of Pulse, explore the human side of case management, learn why the maritime industry must stop treating red flags as normal, step inside the world of supply chain with Tim Krulatz, and much more.