Essential Preparation Checklist for Ship Medics [Free Download]

Contributors

Dr. Will Duffin and Liz Baugh

Will is a jobbing Devon based GP, educator and adventure addict. He has provided medical cover for dozens of very different expeditions and projects; including commercial high-altitude treks in The Himalayas and The Andes, a luxury Trans-Siberian private train, a reality TV show in the South Pacific and he has worked with UNICEF out in forgotten corners of Myanmar.

Liz is a maritime medicine specialist with 26 years of experience in remote healthcare, focusing on ensuring vessels are self-sufficient in extreme conditions. As Lead Medical Consultant at Red Square Medical, she works with expedition ships heading into the polar regions, ensuring their medical preparedness for challenging and isolated environments. Liz’s expertise extends beyond maritime medicine, shaping best practices for remote medical provision in some of the world’s most unforgiving settings.

Heading out on an expedition ship as a medic is an exciting and challenging opportunity, but it requires meticulous preparation.

To help you get ready, we’ve created this comprehensive checklist in partnership with Red Square Medical – experts in maritime medical support.

If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail! This guide will ensure you’re fully equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate your next short-term contract at sea, to grab a the comprehensive, downloadable version of this guide – head to the bottom of this article.

Pre-Departure Timeline & Essential Preparations

2 Months Before Departure

✔ Request a full medical kit inventory from the company, including available drugs, diagnostics, stretchers, and evacuation chairs—understanding what you have on board is crucial.

✔ Obtain participant pre-departure health questionnaires and assess whether adjustments need to be made based on likely scenarios and group health needs.

6 Weeks Before Departure

✔ Contact your Medical Indemnity Provider with detailed trip information to arrange indemnity coverage. If your provider doesn’t cover this, shop around for alternatives.

1 Month Before Departure

✔ Identify the Topside Medical Support provider and clarify their processes:

Can you call anytime or only in emergencies?
Are calls recorded, and will you receive a transcript for medical records?
Do they provide standing orders for clinical and administrative guidance?
Are they aware of the ship’s inventory to assist with treatment decisions?
Will they coordinate medical evacuations and recommend shoreside facilities?

✔ Review the company’s Medevac Plan and identify available emergency assets—know whether disembarkation will occur at the next port or require external retrieval (e.g., boat/helicopter rescue).

✔ Study the ship’s layout and casualty evacuation pathways, paying attention to tight corners, gangways, and stretcher-carrying techniques.

✔ Research all itinerary ports and nearby alternative ports. Check for ships’ agents who can assist with resupply.

✔ Identify hospitals with emergency rooms at each port and note:

Port name
Contact details
Services available
Any restrictions (e.g., limited hours, specialist access)

3 Weeks Before Departure

✔ Confirm all required documentation with HR and Crewing, including:

Travel insurance
VISAs
Flights & transfers (check if arranged)
Excess baggage allowances for medical supplies

✔ Check local & transit restrictions on controlled drugs, especially when transiting the UAE.

✔ Contact the outgoing medic to discuss their experiences and any ongoing patient cases.

How many patients are seen daily?
Common complaints and main challenges?
Any recent medical evacuations?
Are there Medical Operations & Outbreak Prevention Plans?
Status of medical supply chains & ordering process?

2 Weeks Before Departure

✔ Plan what reference materials to bring (offline-friendly resources preferred):

BMJ Best Practice (clinical decision support, requires subscription, offline access available)
JRCALC (UK paramedic guidelines)
BNF & BNFC (prescribing reference)
Medscape (drug interaction checker & clinical tools)
Oxford Handbook of Expedition & Wilderness Medicine
Mariners Medico Guide (ICS-approved app for shipboard medical care)

1 Week Before Departure

✔ Pack essential medical kit—don’t rely on supplied stethoscopes, bring a quality one!

Arrival & First Week Onboard

Day of Joining the Ship

✔ Meet the Captain & Chief Officer—understand your role in emergency protocols.

✔ Conduct a handover with the outgoing medic, covering:

Ongoing patient cases
Medical inventory & resupply process
Critical protocols & onboard documentation

✔ Locate your emergency response station – you may be required for:

Medical emergencies
Fire & flood response
Man overboard rescues
Enclosed space rescues
Collision & mass casualty incidents (check for secondary medical stations)

First Week Onboard

✔ Take a full tour of the ship, including technical spaces where rescues may be complex.

✔ Arrange a training session with stretcher teams to assess skill levels and rehearse patient transport procedures.

✔ Familiarise yourself with all medical equipment onboard – practice using anything unfamiliar.

✔ Review the Medevac Plan with the Captain & Chief Officer to ensure seamless coordination in an emergency.

Download Your Printable Expedition Medic Checklist

To make your preparation even easier, we’ve created a downloadable and printable version of this checklist. Whether you’re heading out on your first expedition ship contract or you’re a seasoned maritime medic, having a physical reference can be invaluable when organising your pre-departure tasks.

Click here to download a copy.

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