To ensure that sailors receive the same level of medical services at sea as on land, we are constantly striving.

22 Dec 2023

Marine life imposes significant constraints in various situations, particularly with medical services being virtually nonexistent. This problem prompted someone to start a business. Jiseok Kim, the CEO of VMS and a former sailor, is introducing specialized medical services to the shipping market.



CEO Kim Jisuk. Powered by VMS


Introduction to the company, please.


"VMS develops and operates specialized health and welfare services for the shipping market. In 2023, with national support, we developed our first service, 'Med Friend,' which provides 24-hour health consultations. Starting in 2024, we plan to fully operate comprehensive services, including remote medical consultations and pharmaceutical services for seafarers."


What does the company name mean?


"VMS stands for Vessel Medical Service. Having sailed for over four years, I realized the dire need for medical services in the shipping market, which lacks adequate medical welfare. This led me to start this business, hence the straightforward name."


What did you do before starting the business, and what motivated you to start it?


"I graduated from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University with a degree in Marine Transportation Science (now the Department of Navigation) and immediately began sailing. Starting with KMTC, a container shipping company, I worked in the industry for about four and a half years. Frequent accidents and incidents at sea, including deaths, amputations, and acute shocks, made me seriously consider starting a business. The decisive moment might have been when my brother and I both experienced severe health issues. While sailing, I suffered from diverticulitis with a high fever for several days. During the COVID-19 outbreak, I couldn't get medication or visit a hospital. I was isolated for three days until we reached the next port, thinking 'this is really not right.' My brother, who also sailed, had congenital hypertension and struggled to get his daily medication due to legal restrictions on long-term prescriptions. This situation prompted me to start VMS to address such medical blind spots. Our mission is to provide medical services at sea equivalent to those on land."



VMS Services screen.  Powered by VMS 


What is the current state of maritime medical services?


"They are virtually nonexistent. On land, you can go to the hospital or buy medication from a pharmacy, but it's not the same at sea. Living according to the ship's schedule means you can't visit a hospital when you're sick, and the available medicines on board are very limited. Ships only carry essential medications that haven't changed in over 60 years. Many seafarers endure pain, which can lead to more serious illnesses. Timely and appropriate treatment is crucial, but the maritime industry prioritizes ships and the surrounding environment over people. Without adequate medical supplies, even telemedicine is not very effective. In a survey of 120 current and former seafarers over two years, 95% said their health deteriorated after boarding. The decline in the number of Korean seafarers and their average age being in their late 50s can be attributed to health issues."


VMS, the organiser of the virtual Seafarers' Medical Consultation. Powered by VMS


How is your service structured?


"It's composed of four stages: prevention, initial response, emergency response, and management. To address the maritime environment, we consulted with various experts, including emergency medicine professors, to create a more realistic service."


Are there any constraints in developing the system due to it being a medical field?


"The development of the service itself is not very difficult, given adequate funding. We collaborate with professional medical staff, so there's no major problem with medical expertise. However, the only constraint might be gaining consensus within the shipping industry, which is very conservative and slow to change due to the lack of direct interaction among stakeholders. We are working hard to gain industry consensus through various attempts and building a network from the ground up. So far, four large and mid-sized shipping companies have expressed their intention to adopt our service. We are committed to succeeding in this necessary but challenging endeavor."


Who are your customers?


"Everyone working in the maritime industry."


What is your ultimate goal?


"Our goal is to create an ecosystem where sailors can receive medical treatment and care at sea without major difficulties. Going to sea for at least six months shouldn't be a crime for sailors who leave for their families and themselves. I hope sailors can work more safely and comfortably at sea."


Consultant: Eun-jin Jang

 ari.maroon.co@gmail.com