– It just sounded like a cool adventure

When Statsraad Lehmkuhl left Tromsø, small ice floes drifted on the sea outside the portholes in the ship’s hospital, where Anders Einum reflected on his shift from hospital wards to an icy ship's deck.

Anders is serving as the ship doctor aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl for the leg from Tromsø to Reykjavik, and brings both medical expertise and curiosity.

– I’m a consultant in gynecology and obstetrics at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, and I’ve been doing research for the past three years. This spring, I had a break and came across an advertisement for a ship doctor position. It felt like the right moment to try something different, he says.

Though he’s a native of Bergen and well aware of Statsraad Lehmkuhl’s iconic status in Norwegian maritime culture, the opportunity to step aboard was more spur-of-the-moment than a long-held dream.

– It just sounded like a cool adventure. Something I haven't tried before, and and I haven't really sailed that much. I don't know if I'll get seasick. But the idea of working in an environment where you can't always call for help from outside, you can't expect to send the patient out, and you can't expect to have all the usual resources that you have in the hospital. It was a challenge that really, really sparked me to apply for the job, Anders says.

– So I phoned home to my wife and my two kids, and asked them if I could get two weeks of leave.

Not just seasickness

From the moment of departure in Tromsø, Anders was prepared not just for minor injuries and seasickness, but for a broader role aboard.

– About 70% of people will feel seasick to some degree. The best advice is fresh air and fixing your eyes on the horizon. Seasickness normally subsides in one to two days, and if it doesn’t, we have medication, he assures.

From what Anders has heard, it's not too eventful.

– People fall out of their hammocks, or lose their balance and knock their head or get some small injuries.

But medical care on board extends beyond physical symptoms.

– Homesickness is something that surely will occur. We are living very closely together. We have a digital-free voyage, so there won't be any social media and the normal day to day connection most people have with their friends and family. If it becomes a problem, we’ll make space for conversation and, if needed, a phone call home or some extra rest, and maybe some time off to sleep in the hospital and not in a hammock next to other snoring students.

His remedy is simple - early intervention.

– I want to keep the threshold low for people to come see me. That way we can catch problems early, whether it's an infection, an injury - or just someone who needs to talk.

Inside the ship’s hospital

The ship’s hospital is compact but fully equipped. Anders gives a brief tour, describing the doctor's office with its examination bench, medications, suction equipment, and everything needed for emergency care.

– We’ve got four bunks for isolation or observation, stretchers in case we have a trauma that needs to be moved around the ship or or evacuated to a helicopter or another ship. An emergency backpack, oxygen supplies, and a defibrillator. We can treat infections, respiratory issues, and we have supplies for suturing and making casts to treat broken legs or broken backs, and a shower and toilet for the patients staying here.

– Hopefully we won’t use most of it. But it’s here, just in case.

A family effort

For Anders, joining the expedition meant leaving his wife and two young children behind for two weeks.

– They’re the real heroes. My wife is handling everything at home. Honestly, she’s working harder than I am right now. It’s not very busy being a ship doctor, only healthy people come on board, and not much dramatic usually happens.

Though the medical cases may be minor, the human connections and learning experiences are significant.

– This voyage is more than just a job. It’s a chance to grow, to step outside routine, and to support everyone else doing the same.