LIBERIA — Mercy Ships has announced the arrival of the Global Mercy, the world’s largest purpose-built charity hospital ship capable of more than doubling the charity’s surgical and training capacity.

The 174-meter, 37,000-ton ship will have six operating rooms and house over 600 volunteers from around the globe representing many disciplines including surgeons, maritime crew, cooks, teachers, electricians, the host staff, and more. The ship will also feature a 682-seat auditorium, student academy, gymnasium, café, shop, and library – all of which have been designed to accommodate up to 950 crew onboard when docked in port.

Mercy Ships has unveiled its newest vessel, the Global Mercy. It’s the world’s largest purpose-built charity hospital ship capable of more than doubling the charity’s surgical and training capacity. Over her 50-year expected lifespan, more than 150,000 lives are estimated to be changed onboard through surgery alone. Mercy Ships Founder is Don Stephens.

“It’s 37,000 tonnes, so you can take the one that you knew the Anastasis, the Caribbean Mercy, the Africa Mercy that we are now using and put them inside the hull and still have a little bit of room left over. This extra beam, the extra width allows us to greatly increase our training and mentoring program on board the new ship. We’ve adopted a slogan for the future, ‘twice the mercy, twice the hope.’ That’s what we do. Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the bottom billion most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa with these hospital ships that will spend ten months at a time in their port cities.”

Stephens concluded by sharing the long-term impact he hopes the Global Mercy will have on countries like Liberia.

“I’m a visionary. I like to think in 10, 20, 30, 50 year horizons. So picture a cadre of key healthcare professionals. Picture a team of the church leaders that have been exposed on board our hospital ship. And they will continue to serve, so that the 20, 30, 40 year horizon for Liberia is that they too might join their place at the table of nations.”

About Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is a global charity that was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens. Since that time, Mercy Ships has performed services valued at more than $1 billion, impacting more than 2.48 million of the world’s most desperate people. More than 581 port visits have been completed in 57 nations.

Hospital ships are used to transform lives and serve nations one at a time. A ship is the most efficient platform to deliver a state-of-the-art-hospital to regions where clean water, electricity, medical facilities, and skilled personnel is limited to nonexistent. And because more than 50% of the world’s population lives within 100 miles of a port city, a hospital ship can reach many people who need care.

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