Maritime medicine is a discipline that deals with the health of people who are in contact with water or the sea, whether for work, leisure or sport. Maritime medicine covers aspects such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of water-related diseases and injuries. Some examples are hypothermia, decompression sickness, infections, accidents and poisoning.

Cruise ship crew members may suffer from illnesses due to working and living conditions, as well as from contagion among passengers and crew. Essentially, we can group them into four types of illnesses: infectious, chronic, occupational, and mental. Infectious diseases are caused by microbes that are transmitted in different ways. Chronic diseases are caused by genetic, environmental, or lifestyle factors that affect health. Occupational diseases are caused by exposure to physical, chemical or biological agents that may be present in the cruise ship environment and are harmful to health. Finally, mental illnesses are caused by psychological, social, or biological factors that alter mood, thinking, or behaviour.

To prevent and mitigate these health risks, cruise ship crew members must follow appropriate hygiene and health measures, such as washing their hands frequently, wearing masks and gloves when necessary, getting vaccinated against the most common diseases, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. In addition, they must undergo regular medical check-ups and report any symptoms or health problems they may have. They must also have a shipping company procedure in place for the prevention and mitigation of health risks arising from COVID-19.

In addition to top quality specialised medical care for cruise ship and yacht crew members and passengers, the Teknon Maritime Medicine Unit provides 24/7 care all year round and handles all types of medical emergencies, including cardiological, traumatic, paediatric and even psychiatric emergencies. As a member of the IMHA, our hospital stays up to date with international maritime regulations and maritime medicine.

You can request assistance from our maritime medicine specialists directly by e-mail at coordinator@barcelonacruisemedicals.com or phone at +34619051281.

Coverage can be offered ranging from care for any type of medical and psychiatric emergency to medical and surgical services for all specialities. In order to provide care, it will be necessary to transfer the patient from the cruise ship to Centro Médico Teknon, which is included in the services provided by Teknon's Maritime Unit.

Teknon's care system includes coordination and support with port authorities and the main private ambulance platforms in Barcelona. The procedure is based on receiving the request and providing medical and surgical care and services to patients on cruise ships or yachts anchored in Barcelona. Our management includes coordinating consultations, imaging, diagnoses, and patient transfers from the port to Centro Médico Teknon.