Heritage Expeditions Selects VIKAND for Medical Management Aboard New Flagship Expedition Vessel, Heritage Adventurer
Date: 09 May 2022
VIKAND—the global maritime medical operations and public health provider—has entered into a medical management agreement with pioneering small ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions to manage all medical operations aboard its new exploration vessel, Heritage Adventurer. With a distinguished pedigree and holding records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, Heritage Adventurer holds a 1A Super iceclass rating. She accommodates just 140 guests in her spacious, stylish, and comfortable interior while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures guests are able to maximize every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible.
Based in New Zealand and offering true, small ship exploration, conservation-based Heritage Expeditions was founded in 1985 to share some of the world’s most remote shores, islands, and coastlines with intrepid travelers. Its voyages continue to cultivate wildlife ambassadors with trips to Antarctica, the Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand, Australia, the islands of the South Pacific and Asia. A Heritage Expeditions’ cruise is designed to provide travelers with a greater understanding of the regions, cultures, and ecosystems of its destinations. All aspects of voyaging to remote and far-reaching destinations are thoughtfully planned and include respecting the environment, minimizing waste, managing fuel consumption, and traveling in small groups. Aboard, every detail is wisely considered with great attention-to-detail for guest comfort and safety. This includes safe healthcare practices.
Aaron Russ, Co-Director of Heritage Expeditions with brother Nathan, says, “Our proven health and safety protocols have resulted in our successfully and safely operating expedition voyages in the COVID environment since November 2020. As we prepare for our upcoming South Pacific and Southern Ocean Season our partnership with VIKAND allows us to match these adventures, sights, and experiences with peace of mind due to their industry-leading healthcare solutions.”
VIKAND’s comprehensive approach to cruise line healthcare includes medical facility operations, outbreak prevention and mitigation, emergency support, formulary and biomedical equipment management, medical staffing, and ongoing consultation. VIKAND’s solutions cover every aspect of on board medical care to provide a protected environment for guests and crew alike with direct benefits of maintaining operational continuity and reducing risk.
ABOUT VIKAND
VIKAND provides global public health and medical solutions to the international commercial maritime, cruise, yachting and offshore industries. We have a team of dedicated physicians, paramedics and nurses who can provide remote or onboard medical assistance 24/7.
Our services also include the provision and maintenance of onboard medical equipment and the management of a fleet’s medical facilities, including the initiation of crew wellness programs involving regular individual health checks and risk assessments as well as chronic condition support monitoring and mental health counselling. We also run online maritime training courses through VIKAND’s maritime school of medical and public health.
Our experience extends to comprehensive knowledge of all regulatory, legislative and procedural requirements for client compliance and we are used to engaging and collaborating with regulators and local jurisdictions.
We also work with our clients to produce tailored public health procedures and protocols with ongoing staff training to maintain best in class hygiene and sanitation standards. This includes understanding and devising protocols to minimise infectious disease transmission such as COVID-19.
ABOUT HERITAGE EXPEDITIONS
Heritage Expeditions was formed in 1985, as a way of increasing awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel. Founded by Rodney and Shirley Russ, Rodney was a biologist working for the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Through his work with Kakapo, Chatham Island Black Robin, and other endangered species he appreciated that rather than locking wilderness areas away, it was important to share them with people so that they might become 'ambassadors' advocating and supporting conservation efforts. He has long held the view that conservation and responsible travel are partners, and that together they can achieve what might otherwise be unachievable.
From those small beginnings Heritage Expeditions, which is still family-owned and run, now by Rodney and Shirley's sons Aaron and Nathan Russ, operates its own ships—140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer and 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer – on expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Asia, Australia, and coastal New Zealand. Each authentic, small-ship expedition cruise is meticulously planned and led, ensuring expeditioners maximise every opportunity they have to learn and experience as much as possible about the region, while at the same time minimising the impact of their visit.
Today Heritage Expeditions works from modern purpose-built offices in Christchurch, New Zealand. When booking with us you benefit from the enormous wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion of our team for the destinations we visit.
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