Seafarers facing a medical emergency at sea can now access practical, step-by-step medical guidance directly from their mobile device through MediSea, an offline-capable tool designed to support crew members providing medical care when no doctor is onboard.

The initiative was presented at SMM in Hamburg on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and the Maritime Medical Service by Dr Jens Tülsner, CEO of Marine Medical Solutions, part of OneCare Group, and one of the authors behind the project. Part of the wider medical support system established by German-flagged vessels, the project highlights how digitalisation can help bridge the gap between established medical standards and the realities of delivering care onboard a vessel.

Medical emergencies at sea present a fundamentally different challenge to those ashore. There may be no ambulance, hospital or doctor immediately available, leaving a trained seafarer, who remains a medical layperson, responsible for providing initial care, Dr Tülsner said.

MediSea has been developed to put the guidance contained within the Maritime Medical Handbook, the standard reference for medical care aboard German-flagged seagoing vessels, directly into the hands of crews when and where they need it.

Dr Tülsner said: “A medical emergency does not necessarily happen when someone is standing next to the medical handbook. It can happen on deck, in the engine room or in a cabin in the middle of the night, and the person responding may be working under enormous pressure.

“The challenge is therefore not simply having good medical guidance available onboard, but making sure a seafarer can find, understand and act on that guidance quickly. MediSea takes established medical information and makes it accessible at the point where care is actually being delivered.”

Designed specifically for use in stressful situations, MediSea provides clear, visual and step-by-step information in both German and English. It works without an internet connection and incorporates search functionality alongside audio and video guidance, recognising that reading detailed instructions can become more difficult during an emergency.

Crucially, the tool is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Instead, it enables the person providing initial care to find relevant information, understand what action is required and respond appropriately before connecting with professional medical support when necessary.

Dr Tülsner added: “Digital tools should not create the impression that seafarers are expected to become doctors. Their purpose should be to support people who may suddenly find themselves responsible for another person’s health with the clearest possible information until professional medical advice can be accessed.

“Effective medical care at sea depends on the whole system working together, from crew training and the onboard medical chest to trusted guidance and access to Telemedical Maritime Assistance Services. Digitalisation gives us an opportunity to connect those elements more effectively.”

MediSea forms part of this wider medical support system, complementing medical training, onboard equipment, the Maritime Medical Handbook and professional telemedical advice. It is available free of charge, is offline-capable and provides content in English and German.