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VIKAND VIKAND is a leading expert in global healthcare solutions for the maritime industry.

Guests no longer just want to relax. They want to understand their health and make changes that last beyond the voyage.A...
10/19/2026

Guests no longer just want to relax. They want to understand their health and make changes that last beyond the voyage.

At VIKAND, we have long believed in a prevention-first approach to healthcare at sea. Marenia is the natural next step: a new medical wellness concept for the cruise industry, developed with wellness pioneer Anna Bjurstam, founder of Wahayla.

In a new interview, our CEO Peter Hult and Anna explain how Marenia brings medical wellness and longevity care on board, delivered within the ship's medical operation under VIKAND's clinical governance.

Read the full interview published in Seatrade Cruise News
https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/wellness/vikand-s-marenia-to-bring-medical-wellness-to-luxury-cruise-ships

To mark World Mental Health Day, our Director of Mental Wellness Practices, Martin Hedman, joined SAFETY4SEA’s expert co...
10/16/2026

To mark World Mental Health Day, our Director of Mental Wellness Practices, Martin Hedman, joined SAFETY4SEA’s expert column on a question that matters to everyone at sea: are seafarers’ voices truly shaping mental health support?

The industry often focuses on encouraging seafarers to speak up. Martin argues that we also need to ask what happens when they do.

He highlights three areas for the industry to focus on:
1️⃣ Remove the fear of career consequences, so seafarers can raise stress or burnout without worrying about their next contract
2️⃣ Recognise the role of leadership, because the culture people experience every day, on board and ashore, decides whether they feel able to ask for help
3️⃣ Show that raising concerns makes a difference, by acting on feedback visibly and explaining why when change isn’t possible

As Martin puts it, the real test is whether seafarers “feel safe doing so” and trust that a genuine concern will be taken seriously. Read Martin’s full contribution here:
🔗 https://safety4sea.com/cm-expert-thinking-on-mental-health-at-sea-from-listening-to-lasting-change/9/

Our Medical Partnerships Manager, Ana Fiorentino, is heading to Athens to speak at the Public Health Congress on Maritim...
10/14/2026

Our Medical Partnerships Manager, Ana Fiorentino, is heading to Athens to speak at the Public Health Congress on Maritime Transport and Ports 2026.

On Friday 23 October, Ana will deliver the presentation “Medical Operations on Expedition Vessels: Delivering Healthcare in Remote Maritime Environments” in the Temple’s Hall at the Royal Olympic Hotel. Expedition cruising takes guests and crew far beyond the reach of shoreside medical support. Ana will look at what it takes to deliver safe, well-governed care in these settings, from preparation and onboard capability to coordination when every hour counts.

The Congress brings together an international community of experts and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, experience and practical approaches to public health across maritime transport, ports, travel and tourism. If you’re attending, in person or online, we’d love to see you at Ana’s session and look forward to meeting you there.

📅 23/24 October 2026
📍 Athens & online
🔗 www.shipsancongress2026.eu

Ahead of on 10 October, one simple thought for everyone supporting crews at sea: keep talking, even when there is noth...
10/09/2026

Ahead of on 10 October, one simple thought for everyone supporting crews at sea: keep talking, even when there is nothing new to say.

When a difficult situation runs on for weeks or months with no clear end point, uncertainty becomes a pressure of its own. Seafarers follow the news, hear from worried family and see speculation online. A short message from their own company helps put all of that into context.

It is natural to wait for a development before sending an update. But telling a crew that the situation has been reviewed, that nothing has materially changed and that it is still being monitored is an update worth sending. For someone on board, it shows that somebody is looking out for them.

As Martin Hedman, our Director of Mental Wellness Practices, puts it: “𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.”

Read more: https://vikand.com/press-releases/world-mental-health-day-vikand-urges-regular-communication-with-seafarers-during-prolonged-crises/

10/05/2026

More than one in four crew repatriations in our OneHealth data are musculoskeletal.

It rarely starts as an emergency. A stiff back, a shoulder strain that crew members work through and hope will pass.
➡️ 28% of all repatriations, more than any other clinical category
➡️ 60% of those involve the lower back
➡️ 84% of cases affect crew aged 30 to 49

The number that matters most: 72% of musculoskeletal cases were treated successfully onboard, with the crew member back to fit-for-work status. Reporting pain early does not automatically lead to repatriation. It creates the opportunity to prevent it.

Read more: https://vikand.com/articles/the-pain-crew-members-cant-afford-to-ignore/

Great teamwork onboard MS Douglas Mawson.Our Biomedical team, Jerry Graziose and Muhab Maki, recently completed a full r...
10/02/2026

Great teamwork onboard MS Douglas Mawson.

Our Biomedical team, Jerry Graziose and Muhab Maki, recently completed a full round of inspections, testing and calibration on the medical equipment aboard Aurora expedition ship.

"From the biomedical side, we were able to complete the scheduled inspections, testing and calibration of the medical equipment. Overall, the equipment was in very good condition, and we found no major issues during the visit."

It's a good example of what onboard medical teams and shore-based biomedical specialists can achieve when they work closely together: equipment that stays safe, reliable and ready for clinical use, wherever the voyage takes it.

Thank you to Dr Viljoen and the team aboard MS Douglas Mawson for such a warm welcome.

📸 From left to right: Muhab Maki, Dr Vilijoen, Jerry Graziose.

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭. This month, VIKAND Pulse Newsletter examines the high cost of hesitation at sea and how c...
09/30/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭.

This month, VIKAND Pulse Newsletter examines the high cost of hesitation at sea and how clear communication, rapid intervention, and reliable medical supplies help protect lives when every moment matters.

Cruise ship clinician Dr Tudor Dusmanu also explores the hidden risks of delaying medical care, and why speaking up early can stop a manageable health concern from becoming a serious emergency.

This edition also highlights two exciting new initiatives launched this month: VIPHARMA, our pharmaceutical and medical supplies subsidiary, and Marenia, a new medical wellness offering designed to support healthier lives at sea. Together, these initiatives further strengthen our commitment to advancing maritime healthcare, safety, and wellbeing across the industry.

📖 Read the latest edition for expert insights, practical strategies, and the latest maritime healthcare news 👇
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/silence-sea-carries-cost-vikandmedical-yj6be/

09/29/2026

From government hospitals in South Africa and Australia to a busy trauma unit, and from ship's physician to Medical Director, Louis Conradie has built a truly global medical career.

After five years in general practice and 10 years in trauma care, Louis moved into maritime as a ship's physician, spending five years at sea. Since then, his work has taken him to Ghana, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia, in roles ranging from Technical Advisor Physician to Chief Medical Officer.

Louis first worked with VIKAND during the pandemic, helping to set up medical facilities for Virgin Voyages. In May 2026, he rejoined us as Medical Director, supporting shipboard medical operations with guidance on case management and clinical governance.

His advice for anyone considering a career in shipping? 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Read Louis's full VIKANDER profile
https://vikand.com/commercial/vikander-profile-louis-conradie/

Introducing Marenia: Medical Wellness at Sea.VIKAND has partnered with wellness pioneer Anna Bjurstam, founder of Wahayl...
09/24/2026

Introducing Marenia: Medical Wellness at Sea.

VIKAND has partnered with wellness pioneer Anna Bjurstam, founder of Wahayla, to launch a new medical wellness concept for the cruise industry.

Cruise ships already carry something extraordinary: professional medical teams and certified medical infrastructure. Marenia asks how that capability can help guests feel better, recover faster and leave healthier than they arrived, all under the same clinical governance that has always protected them at sea.

"The cruise industry does hospitality exceptionally well. VIKAND understands medicine at sea. Anna understands how to turn wellness into an extraordinary guest experience. Marenia brings those three worlds together." – Peter Hult, CEO, VIKAND

"Guests no longer just want to relax. They want to understand their health, improve how they feel, and make changes that last after the journey ends. With VIKAND's medical expertise behind it, we can do that responsibly, and beautifully." – Anna Bjurstam

Read the full release: vikand.com/press-releases/vikand-and-wellness-pioneer-anna-bjurstam-launch-marenia-medical-wellness-at-sea/
Discover Marenia: marenia-wellness.com

"I think I'm fine," a guest said, smiling, convinced it was just indigestion.Dr. Emily F. Luza, Ship Physician, reflects...
09/22/2026

"I think I'm fine," a guest said, smiling, convinced it was just indigestion.

Dr. Emily F. Luza, Ship Physician, reflects on one of the realities of medicine at sea: the diagnosis is only the beginning. The real challenge is what comes next, when clinical judgement, teamwork and honest conversations decide whether someone gets the care they truly need, even when they feel well enough to argue otherwise.

"One of the greatest privileges of practising medicine at sea is not that we can do everything. It is knowing what we can do, recognising what we cannot, and ensuring our patients reach the people who can help them before it's too late."

It's a job built on judgement and courage as much as clinical skill, and it stays with those who do it long after the voyage ends.

Read Dr. Emily's latest contribution
https://vikand.com/articles/when-im-fine-just-isnt-fine-reflecting-on-the-human-side-of-maritime-medicine/

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