As the operating environment at sea becomes increasingly complex, the maritime industry must rethink how healthcare is delivered, managed and prioritised to better support the seafarers who keep global trade moving. Ronald Spithout, Managing Director of OneHealth by VIKAND, explores why a shift towards proactive, technology-enabled health management is becoming essential for both crew wellbeing and operational performance.
For many years, healthcare at sea has been shaped by necessity. Limited connectivity, remote operating environments and restricted access to medical support meant that healthcare programmes were often focused on managing issues once they had arisen, whether that was an illness, injury, mental health concern or wider welfare challenge. While this approach was understandable, the industry is now reaching a point where it can move from healthcare crisis management to a more effective, forward looking approach to healthcare management.
The catalyst for this change is the increasingly close relationship between healthcare, technology and connectivity. As onboard communications continue to improve, access to telehealth services, remote consultations, digital health platforms and real-time reporting has expanded significantly, creating opportunities to support crew members in ways that were simply not possible a decade ago.
This greater connectivity is transforming how operators and healthcare providers work together. Rather than relying solely on periodic assessments or responding when problems become visible, organisations can now access meaningful health and welfare data that helps identify trends, understand emerging risks and intervene earlier when support may be needed.
Importantly, the value of this data lies not simply in collecting it, but in turning insight into action. By analysing healthcare trends across fleets, recurring issues can be identified, enabling targeted interventions designed to reduce risk and improve crew wellbeing. For example, with one OneHealth by VIKAND partner, data analysis revealed a higher rate of eye and hand injuries across an operator’s fleet compared with similar operations, indicating potential gaps in adherence to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols. In response, the operator strengthened PPE requirements and introduced targeted safety briefings focused on injury prevention. This proactive approach helped reduce preventable injuries, demonstrating how data-driven insights can translate into tangible improvements in both workforce welfare and operational performance.
This evolution comes at a particularly important time. Seafarers continue to operate in an increasingly complex global environment and are often the unintended collateral damage of geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts and wider disruptions to global trade. As operational pressures increase, healthcare becomes an even more tangible form of support, providing crew members with access to medical expertise, mental health resources and wellbeing services when they need them most.
Most onboard medical encounters are concentrated within a relatively small number of conditions, with musculoskeletal complaints accounting for 13% of reported cases, followed by dermatological issues (11%), injuries (10%), gastrointestinal illnesses (9%), communicable diseases (8%), respiratory conditions (8%) and dental problems (8%). Together, these conditions represent approximately two-thirds of all reported medical cases at sea, highlighting the value of using health data and reporting to identify patterns, target interventions and support prevention wherever possible.
At VIKAND, we have seen first-hand how this shift is reshaping maritime healthcare. Through our OneHealth approach, which integrates physical, mental and environmental health, we work with operators to build a more complete understanding of crew wellbeing and support a transition from reactive care towards ongoing health management.
A key example is Crew Pulse Check, developed by VIKAND in partnership with Scoutbase. The platform uses AI-supported technology to gather anonymous feedback through regular wellbeing check-ins, providing real-time insight into crew sentiment, morale and wellbeing trends across vessels and fleets. By identifying early indicators of stress, disengagement or dissatisfaction, operators can take action sooner and provide targeted support before concerns develop into more serious issues.
Importantly, this is not about replacing healthcare professionals or traditional medical services. Instead, it is about giving operators and medical teams better information, stronger visibility and more opportunities to intervene early. As technology, connectivity and healthcare become increasingly intertwined, health management can be embedded more fully into day-to-day vessel operations, delivering benefits for both crew members and organisations.
The future of maritime healthcare should not be measured solely by how effectively we respond to crises, but by how successfully we maintain health, support wellbeing and prevent issues from arising in the first place. With the technology, connectivity and healthcare expertise now available, the foundations for that future are already in place.
