A new hospital ship is being constructed by Mercy Ships

MSC Group, MSC Foundation, and Mercy Ships International have collaborated to build a new hospital ship in Africa. With a generous donation from the MSC Foundation, this project aims to provide free surgeries and training to thousands of individuals annually. The new ship will expand Mercy Ships’ fleet, allowing for increased training and advocacy efforts. Since its establishment in 1978, Mercy Ships has conducted over 117,000 specialized surgeries and trained 54,300 local professionals.

The new hospital ship will be designed similarly to the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. It will feature living quarters for 600 crew members and guests, two decks, six operating rooms, a laboratory, and advanced training rooms. This purpose-built ship will enhance Mercy Ships’ capacity to collaborate with host nations on training and advocacy initiatives. Don Stephens, the founder of Mercy Ships, expressed gratitude to MSC for its support in making this project possible.

MSC has been partnering with Mercy Ships since 2011, offering logistical support and technical advice. The new vessel design aims to improve operational efficiency. The MSC Foundation’s Managing Director, Daniela Picco, highlighted the significant impact of Mercy Ships’ free services and training on 18,000 healthcare professionals, 30,300 patients, and over 33,200 surgeries since 2011. The Global Mercy was delivered in 2021 through a collaboration involving CSSC, Stena RoRo, and Deltamarine.

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