Introduction - Wearable Technology

Highlights

• The use of wearable technology for real-time health monitoring of seafarers is examined through a review of seven recent studies, ranging from Arduino-based prototypes to a US Navy study involving 845 sailors
• The scale of the problem is illustrated with over 50,000 vessels and nearly 2 million seafarers operating globally, while between 60 and 90% of maritime incidents are attributed to human error, such as fatigue, stress, and cognitive load
• An economic dimension is highlighted, with a single medical evacuation costing about 100,000 US dollars, and each mental health-related case estimated at approximately 168,000 dollars for shipping companies
• Maritime conditions are described as fundamentally different from land, including prolonged isolation, confined quarters, disrupted circadian rhythms, and environments hostile to electronics, so land-based wearable frameworks do not translate cleanly
• A five-stage pipeline called Human Digital Healthcare Engineering is introduced from a 2025 review, covering sensing, data transmission, human digital twins, AI-driven diagnostics, and predictive health analysis toward proactive care