Magazine 2026/1: Special Edition – Medical Repatriation and TMAS

Dear Readers, Welcome to this Special Edition of the IMH Magazine, dedicated to the complex and sometimes unnoticed topic of medical repatriation and maritime Telemedical Assistance Services (TMAS). As you will learn in the pages that follow, in maritime medicine, the decision to send a seafarer home is rarely a simple logistical matter. It is frequently a medical judgment that has been shaped by limited onboard resources, operational realities of the vessel while at sea, and the physician's responsibility to maintain a balance between clinical care and the safety and wellbeing of the individual seafarer. Additionally, the regulatory framework provided by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) emphasizes the importance of ensuring appropriate medical care and repatriation when illness or injury occurs far from shore. This issue of the Magazine brings together several perspectives from experienced TMAS practitioners who share insights drawn from their daily clinical work supporting ships around the world. Their contributions highlight the complexity of medical decision-making in maritime environments and the collaborative nature of telemedical assistance. We hope that this special edition will not only be an engaging read but can also serve as a useful reference for maritime health professionals who may one day face the difficult question of when going home becomes, above all, a medical decision. On behalf of the editorial team, thank you for joining us in exploring this important aspect of maritime medicine. Warm regards, James A. Denham, MD Editor, IMH Magazine.