After so many ports we had a sea day so our guests could enjoy a slower pace of life. It was a bit of a windy day, such as an average Caribbean day, but as the guests by now have become accustomed to flat seas, some complained about rough weather. Well you cannot win them all I suppose and there is not much hope for those people, if they would want to go on a world cruise.

Excitement started in the afternoon when I was called by the medical department because they had a patient in the hospital. The situation looked quite serious and if it would turn out to be very serious, we might have to find a way to quickly disembark the patient. Our ships hospital is equipped with all necessary equipment to deal with emergency’s but there is a difference between controlling a heart attack and operating on one. So sometimes the best option is to get outside help as soon as possible.

The decision in a situation like this depends on several criteria. If the doctor recommends a medical disembarkation as quickly as possible then it is up to the captain to say yes or no. Several points have to be considered. Firstly, is it safely possible? What ever we do, we will never
endanger the ship. Turning the ship in hurricane weather to sail back to your last port might thus not be an option. If there are no safety considerations then there is the next question: can we do something and if yes, how, when and where.

There are now several options. Turn the ship around and sail back to the last port. This is distance depending. Continue to the next port of call, this is distance depending and limited by the maximum speed the ship can make. Deviate to a nearby port. That depends if there is another port nearby, whether that port has medical facilities and whether a ship the size of the Veendam can get into that port.

Try to get a helicopter. Most area’s in the world have Search and Rescue centers and they will dispatch helicopters if they agree with the severity of the situation. That means that the ships doctor discusses the patient situation with the shore doctor of the Rescue centre. If the shore doctor agrees, then in principle a helicopter will be dispatched if the weather allows it and if it is within flying distance. The ship will then sail in the direction from where the helicopter is coming to reduce the distance and a lift off from the ship will be prepared.

So also for this patient I went through all the options and in the end the best option was to go for a very early arrival in Koper. We knew that in Koper good medical facilities were available and that also played an important part in the considerations. So we kept the Pedal to the Metal and I docked in Koper 2 hours earlier than planned. The moment the gangway went out, the ambulance was there and the patient was in hospital 30 minutes later.

As the patient had an internal bleeding, we needed extra blood to keep the patient alive and so volunteers were sought among the crew. Although I cannot force crewmembers to give blood, I also do not have to it, as volunteers always step forward. This time the port lecturer and two ladies from the beauty salon had the right blood group and helped out. I find it very important to recognize crewmembers who will go beyond the regular job requirements and thus I like to recognize them. So they will receive a leather album with a ship photo and a captain’s letter of commendation tomorrow. Latest news is, is that the patient is doing well.