MV Global Mercy
MV Global Mercy is the world's largest civilian hospital ship, constructed as the first purpose-built floating hospital for humanitarian organization Mercy Ships.[2] The contract to build the vessel was awarded to Stena RoRo, Göteborg, Sweden in 2014. Construction was done by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) at the Tianjin Xingang Shipyard, Tianjin, China and was completed in 2020.[3] In 2021, the Global Mercy is scheduled to complete her outfitting and set sail for her maiden voyage to Africa, where she will begin her first field service.
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Global Mercy |
| Owner: | Mercy Ships |
| Operator: | Mercy Ships |
| Port of registry: |
 Malta |
| Ordered: | 2013 |
| Builder: | Stena RoRo, Göteborg, Sweden |
| Launched: | Expected 2021 |
| Completed: | 2020 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9726499 |
| Status: | Under construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Hospital Ship |
| Tonnage: | |
| Length: | 174.00 m (570 ft 10 in)[1] |
| Beam: | 28.6 m (93 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 6.15 m (20 ft 2 in) |
| Decks: | 12 |
| Installed power: | 4 x Wärtsilä 6L32 diesels |
| Propulsion: | 2 x ABB Azipod CO propellers |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Capacity: | 500 |
Upon delivery, the Global Mercy will more than double the surgical capacity and patient beds of Mercy Ships and have an expected lifespan of 50 years.[4][5]
Mission
The Global Mercy is designed to double Mercy Ships annual medical capacity and perform a range of surgeries, including maxillofacial and reconstructive surgeries, tumor removals, cleft lip and palate repair, reconstructive plastics, orthopedic surgery, cataract removal, obstetric fistula repair, and more. Mercy Ships provides these surgeries free of charge to patients in their host nations over the course of each 10-month field service. During each field service, Mercy Ships partners with the local government and healthcare leaders to provide specialized training courses, mentor local medical professionals, and strengthen the country's healthcare system.
The Global Mercy will join the organization’s other operating ship, the Africa Mercy, in carrying out the mission of providing hope and healing to those who need it most.
Design and capabilities
The Global Mercy will more than double the organization’s capacity to deliver hope and healing to the world’s poorest nations, while also strengthening local healthcare systems through training and capacity building. The Global Mercy will launch her first field service on the continent of Africa in 2021.
The 174 m, 37,000-ton ship features 12 decks. The hospital, located on decks 3 and 4, contains supply services, 6 operating theaters, 102 acute care beds, 7 ICU beds, and 90 self-care beds. The hospital also features dedicated classroom spaces and simulator labs with state-of-the-art technology for enhanced training of local medical professionals.
In addition to its hospital facilities, the Global Mercy also features meeting and workspaces, as well as accommodation for 641 people.
See also
References
- "Mercy Ship Hospital Ship - Global Mercy" (PDF). Stena RoRo. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Launching a NEW Vessel of Mercy | Mercy Ships". Mercy Ships. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- "Atlantic Mercy Hospital Ship". Ship Technology. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "2017 Annual Report" (PDF). Mercy Ships. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Barbaschow, Asha. "Mercy Ships building a floating data centre to enable a fully-functioning hospital". ZDNet. Retrieved 23 June 2020.