Marina Software may improve medical treatment on board

Can digital tools support more accurate assessments of illness and injuries at sea? There is strong indication that they can. A pilot project is now being rolled out on ten vessels

“How are you feeling?”

That is how Marina, a new AI assistant, begins a structured series of questions when a seafarer has been injured or falls ill. Marina continues by asking targeted, systematic questions to ensure that symptoms and the sequence of events are clearly identified and documented.

After several months of testing, the results are positive.

“This is a clearly step forward for safety,” says Steffen Rudbech Nielsen.

“With Marina, the risk of errors is reduced, and language-related misunderstandings are minimized. Clear questions require clear answers, which results in a better initial medical or incident report and creates stronger conditions for making a rapid diagnosis and initiating treatment. Overall, this leads to better care and a greater sense of security,” he explains.

A tool – not a doctor
Marina has been developed as part of a pilot project by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), at the Institute of Regional Health Research and SDU Health Informatics and Technology.

The project has been led by physician and researcher Peter Biesenbach, formerly with Radio Medial Denmark, with the aim of strengthening the link between research and maritime medicine.

“Marina is not a replacement for professional medical assessment, but it is an important tool in the diagnostics process. Marina asks questions in different ways to clarify symptoms and ensure that relevant information is captured. It also seeks confirmation of the information provided. ‘Is it correct that you are experiencing this?’ – which significantly increases the likelihood of reaching the right conclusion effectively,” says Steffen Rudbech Nielsen.

Strengthened communication
Marina supports 33 languages, an aspect that Steffen Rudbech Nielsen highlights as particularly valuable.

“Crews on international vessels often come from many different countries, and language can be a critical factor in effective communication. We know that symptoms conveyed through multiple language layers can easily lead to misunderstandings. Being able to explain one’s condition in one’s own language provides a much greater sense of reassurance,” he says.

Marina has been available and simulated on a small number of vessels for a couple of months as part of the pilot program, allowing medical officers to test the system in connection with reporting and assessing illnesses and injuries. The solution is now being rolled out on ten vessels.

“We have seen what it can do on board individual vessels – now we want to see how it performs across a larger part of the fleet, while continuously capturing learnings and implementing improvements,” says Steffen Rudbech Nielsen.