Just what the doctor ordered

Next time you’re at the Monaco Yacht Show you might find yourself showing off a shiny new ultrasound, instead of a tender or toy. A cutting-edge medical set-up on board is suddenly on yacht owners’ wish lists – and some say it’s long overdue.

Medical experts deem the current situation on most private yachts to be fairly sound. Captains and crew take emergencies on board seriously; most are well-trained, if perhaps a little rusty when it comes to more niche areas of expertise, and all boats carry the standard set of kit required. What’s on board is rarely personalised to an owner and their needs, and the emphasis is more often than not on how to get an ill or injured person to shore in the shortest amount of time. But things are changing.

A handful of tech-savvy owners are investing in pocket-sized devices that are making diagnosis on the water more precise and powerful, while developing medical plans that are tailored to their hobbies and wherever it is they want to go.

ProFace X [TD], by ZKTeco, gives fast and accurate body-temperature measurements

A dedicated hospital room may be a luxury that few yachts have the space to afford, but a “hospital closet” filled with medical equipment, plus specialist medical staff-cum-crew to operate it, could soon be the new norm. So, why the sudden interest?

You might expect the trend to be driven by older owners hoping to retire on board while dealing with lingering health niggles, but in fact the reverse is true. It is the fit, young owners who are pushing the boundaries, as they tend to take part in higher-risk activities and watersports, and often head off into areas where those medical facilities on shore are further and further away.

“Out of the 80 yachts that we manage, probably 10 per cent are going to far-off, remote locations,” says Mark Paterson, director of yacht management at Y.CO. “We’re having proactive discussions with them, asking, ‘Have you thought about what happens if something goes wrong on board and you’re in the middle of nowhere? Do you have the right equipment?’ Nine times out of 10, their onboard equipment and contingency plan requires upgrading.”

Previously, yachts travelling to areas such as Antarctica might, in the event of an emergency, have hoped to get themselves to the nearest cruise ship – often incredibly well-equipped with hospital facilities that