Medical help — onboard injury or illness right now
Seafarer injured or ill onboard. Get the Master + TMAS engaged immediately; document everything for the inevitable insurance + repatriation conversation.
Immediate action (do this first)
- Alert the Master + the designated medical officer immediately. Do not wait.
- Ask the Master to request a TMAS (Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service) consultation if shore-side medical advice is needed.
- Document everything: symptoms, timing, what activity caused it (if injury), witnesses.
- If serious + at sea: request medevac or deviation to nearest suitable port. The cost is the owner's (MLC 4.1).
- If in port: ask the agent to arrange immediate shore-side care.
Evidence to save
- Time + circumstances of injury or first symptoms.
- Names of witnesses + their statements (signed).
- Photos of any injury or hazard that caused it.
- Medical-log book entry signed by the Master.
- Every TMAS consultation message (logged automatically).
- Shore-side hospital records + diagnostic reports.
- Any communication with the P&I club about the case.
Escalation chain
- Master + onboard medical officer (immediate)
- TMAS consultation via radio / satellite — Master is required to facilitate.
- Agent + shore-side hospital at next port — P&I club typically arranges via the agent.
- Flag-state seafarer-complaint channel — If care is refused or delayed in breach of MLC 4.1.
- ISWAN SeafarerHelp — For welfare follow-up + family liaison.
Do NOT
- Don't sign anything from the P&I club without reading carefully — some forms include claim waivers.
- Don't accept 'we'll see how it develops' as a response to a serious symptom — escalate to TMAS.
- Don't refuse repatriation for medical reasons in exchange for a wage bonus.
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