Maritime leaders at a healthcare-focused seminar during Posidonia 2026 called for a major shift in how the shipping industry protects crews, arguing that reactive treatment alone is no longer enough for an industry facing rising medical, operational and geopolitical pressures.

The event, held by health and wellness platform OneCare Group  titled ‘Transforming Healthcare at Sea: Future Health Systems for the Maritime Industry,’ brought together shipowners, medical specialists, insurers and welfare experts to discuss telemedicine, mental health, predictive analytics, compliance and seafarer wellbeing. Organisers framed the discussion around a simple message repeated throughout the session: health and safety at sea can no longer be treated as separate issues.

The speakers included Amalia Marcou, Crew Director at Enesel Group; Kostas Katsoulieris, P&I Claims Director, Greece, at NorthStandard; Cpt Ioannis Kokkotas, Marine Manager at MGJ Carriers & Tankers; Dr Jens Tulsner, CEO and Founder of Marine Medical Solutions and a member of the OneCare Group; and Stella Kiss, Head of Clinical Operations at Mental Health Support Solutions and member of OneCare Group.

Addressing delegates, Marinos Kokkinis, CEO of OneCare Group and organiser of the seminar, pointed to the importance of protecting our biggest assets, which is the seafarers. “We mentioned it many times, some believe that the loss of life at sea in our industry is at acceptable levels, but I would argue it is not and we are still looking at loss of life. We are talking about human beings – and every life counts. We must support this vision for sustainable shipping, for taking care of our seafarers, and recognising that they are our greatest asset.”

The panel debate told delegates that the current maritime healthcare model remains largely reactive, with many vessels still relying on emergency telemedical advice, uneven onboard training and limited diagnostic equipment. Audience polling during the seminar suggested around half of respondents believe healthcare at sea is still mostly reactive, while others pointed to inconsistent procedures and underused health data as major barriers to improvement.

Mental health emerged as one of the strongest themes of the afternoon. Panellists said stigma, fatigue, isolation and fears over job security continue to stop seafarers from reporting distress, even as recent crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflict-linked crew disruptions in the Gulf and Middle East, have exposed the human cost of weak support systems. Several participants argued that companies should normalise health conversations onboard and train senior officers to spot warning signs earlier.

Technology was presented as both an opportunity and a challenge. Panellists highlighted telemedicine devices that can transmit vital signs and images to shore-based doctors, as well as the potential for rapid onboard diagnostic tests, wearable sensors and AI-driven screening tools. But they also warned that artificial intelligence must not replace clinical judgement. Instead, they said, it should be used to flag risks, improve anonymous reporting and help build a more preventive model of care.

Questions over data ownership, confidentiality, certification and cyber-security remain unresolved. Participants also described persistent logistical problems, including inconsistent medical chest rules, medicine import restrictions in some ports and difficulties supplying ships on remote or disrupted routes. Insurers said certified, trusted systems would be essential if preventive healthcare investments are to gain wider industry backing.

Despite those obstacles, the seminar ended with broad agreement that maritime healthcare must evolve toward a holistic model that treats welfare, mental health, diagnostics and prevention as part of core vessel safety. For an industry under pressure to modernise, delegates were told that the next step is not simply more technology, but stronger trust, clearer governance and a commitment to putting seafarers at the centre of operational decision-making.