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.