Heart problems could account for a comparatively small proportion of onboard medical consultations, however critical circumstances can have a disproportionate scientific and operational affect, in accordance with VIKAND, whose industrial transport knowledge reinforces findings from the not too long ago printed 2026 Gard Crew Claims Report.
Gard’s report, primarily based on round 3,000 P&I crew claims, discovered that sickness accounts for round 60% of all crew claims, with heart problems accountable for each the best sickness prices and the best variety of fatalities, highlighting a big crew welfare and operational threat.
Evaluation of economic transport scientific encounters by OneHealth by VIKAND from 2024-2026 discovered that cardiovascular situations represented round 5% of consultations. By comparability, musculoskeletal situations accounted for roughly 13%, dermatology 11%, accidents 10%, gastrointestinal situations 9% and infectious ailments 8%.
Regardless of their decrease frequency, cardiovascular diseases accounted for roughly 10% of all disembarkations, making them the fourth commonest cause for crew disembarkation over the identical interval.
VIKAND’s knowledge factors to a rising burden of power cardiovascular threat components amongst crew, significantly older seafarers, relatively than clear proof that cardiovascular emergencies themselves have gotten extra frequent. Hypertension, weight problems, diabetes and different power situations improve the probability of future cardiovascular occasions if not recognized and managed early.
“Gard’s findings mirror precisely what our clinicians are seeing throughout the worldwide fleet,” stated Ronald Spithout, Managing Director, OneHealth by VIKAND. “The maritime business has turn out to be superb at responding to emergencies however the higher alternative now could be stopping them. If we will establish and handle hypertension earlier than it turns into chest ache, and chest ache earlier than it turns into a medical evacuation, we enhance outcomes for crew whereas lowering operational disruption.”
Hypertension stays probably the most vital modifiable cardiovascular threat components encountered by VIKAND clinicians, alongside weight problems, diabetes, tobacco use, poor food plan and bodily inactivity. Fatigue, shift work, disrupted sleep, extended contracts and psychosocial stress can additional contribute to threat.
VIKAND believes the best alternative for shipowners lies in proactive power illness administration, supported by complete pre-employment and pre-embarkation well being assessments.
Cautious overview of PEME outcomes can establish cardiovascular threat components earlier than deployment, whereas routine blood strain monitoring, focused follow-up, treatment adherence and onboard well being and wellness initiatives might help forestall deterioration. Encouraging sincere disclosure of well-controlled power situations and making certain crew carry ample upkeep treatment for potential voyage extensions can additional scale back threat.
One current case demonstrates the worth of this method. A 60-year-old crew member developed chest ache onboard a vessel in a distant area the place quick evacuation was not attainable. Working with the ship’s command crew, VIKAND clinicians established twice-daily monitoring of signs, blood strain and ECG findings, whereas initiating anti-anginal remedy and adjusting therapy as his situation advanced.
Regardless of recurring episodes over almost two weeks, the crew member remained clinically secure and was safely disembarked for specialist evaluation on the vessel’s scheduled port, avoiding an emergency diversion.
“This consequence demonstrated the worth of structured protocols, steady monitoring and shut collaboration between ship and shore,” stated Mr Spithout. “Telehealth isn’t designed to interchange hospitals, it’s about bringing knowledgeable scientific judgement to the locations the place hospitals can’t attain.”
With heart problems recognized because the highest-cost sickness class within the Gard report, VIKAND is encouraging shipowners to view cardiovascular well being as a part of operational resilience. Proactive programmes may generate measurable knowledge on cardiovascular threat, blood strain management, teleconsultations, disembarkations and repatriations, serving to shipowners assess the affect of preventive interventions.
“Each prevented escalation means much less disruption to operations, decrease healthcare prices and, most significantly, a greater consequence for the person,” concluded Mr Spithout. “The strongest security cultures don’t look ahead to a disaster, they establish well being dangers early, encourage crews to talk up and provides folks entry to the help they want earlier than a medical challenge turns into an emergency.”
Supply: VIKAND
