Crew Medical Program

A crew medical issue in a U.S. port is never routine.

U.S. healthcare costs are among the highest in the world. What begins as a minor ailment can quickly escalate into inflated hospital bills, prolonged treatment, repatriation risk, and vessel delay. Without specialist intervention from the outset, owners and managers are exposed to uncontrolled costs, operational disruption, and unnecessary claims leakage.

For global fleets trading regularly to the United States, crew medical exposure is not an exception it is a recurring commercial risk.

Experience shows that who manages a U.S. crew medical case and when determines the outcome.

Prompt assessment at the right facility providing the next best level of care for the seafarer. Real-time cost auditing and negotiation. These steps dramatically reduce medical cost inflation and prevent cases from spiraling out of control.

That is where ShorelineHudson steps in.

ShorelineHudson provides dedicated crew medical cost mitigation and claims management services across the United States, designed to protect both your crew and your balance sheet.

We were a founding service provider to the NorthStandard First Call USA programme, helping establish what is now one of the most trusted crew medical assistance frameworks in the U.S. market. Today, we remain the go-to medical cost mitigation partner for some of the world’s largest shipowners, ship managers, and P&I Clubs.

Our team combines deep U.S. healthcare market knowledge with hands-on maritime claims expertise, allowing us to intervene early, manage decisively, and reduce costs that would otherwise go unchecked.

When engaged, ShorelineHudson:

1. Takes immediate control
   We coordinate assessment and treatment at appropriate, reputable medical facilities, avoiding unnecessary escalation from the outset.
2. Audits and negotiates costs
   All medical invoices are rigorously reviewed and challenged where necessary. Inflated charges are negotiated down using proven methodologies.
3. Protects operational continuity
   Where medically possible, crew are returned to the vessel promptly, avoiding unnecessary repatriation or sailing delays.
4. Reports transparently
   Owners, managers, and Clubs receive clear updates throughout, ensuring visibility and control at every stage. Our fees are clear and separate from medical fees and always actual medical invoices are provided.

Our results speak for themselves:

• According to a leading International Group P&I Club, ShorelineHudson’s medical cost mitigation services have saved approximately US$10 million over the last 10 years.
• Clients engaging our team can expect average savings in excess of 60% on U.S. crew medical costs compared to uncontrolled billing. We offer this service on a no cure- no pay basis.

These are not one-off outcomes they are repeatable savings delivered year after year.

Shipowners and managers rely on us because:

• We are embedded in the U.S. medical and maritime claims ecosystem
• We helped build the First Call USA framework, we didn’t just join it
• We are trusted by major P&I Clubs and global fleet managers
• We combine first class medical care for seafarers with uncompromising cost discipline
• We consistently turn unpredictable exposures into a controlled process

We are now offering medical bill negotiation services in Latin America Spanish Speaking countries.

With ShorelineHudson managing your U.S. crew medical cases, you achieve:

• Reduced exposure to inflated U.S. medical billing
• Faster treatment decisions and fewer vessel delays
• Better outcomes for injured or ill crew
• Predictable, defensible claims handling
• Measurable savings that protect operating margins