Mercy Ships, Ships of Hope in Spain, has announced that the Global Mercy has completed sea trials, one of the final milestones in the countdown to the delivery, outfitting, maiden voyage and operational start of the hospital ship in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.
The tests include engine performance and fuel consumption, navigation and radio equipment, emergency systems, speed tests, maneuverability, engine and propulsion tests, as well as safety assessments.
“These trials represent a critical verification before the delivery of our new ship, specially designed to become the service platform for which it is intended. I am pleased to say that the Global Mercy successfully passed all trials,” stated Jim Paterson, Executive Marine Consultant for Mercy Ships. “Only some final touches remain to be made to the interior, particularly in the hospital area, before the ship can be delivered,” Paterson added.
Rob Corley, Chief Operating Officer, confirmed that after Mercy Ships completes the final handover of the ship, it will embark on its maiden voyage to Belgium, where it will be docked in the port of Antwerp. While in port, the Global Mercy will undergo several months of final outfitting and outfitting. This includes the installation of medical equipment and technological innovation systems, as well as the provisioning of supplies through the Mercy Ships European Distribution Center located in the Netherlands. The European visit will culminate with the ship's first voyage to Africa. Mercy Ships also plans to hold an event in Dakar in early 2022 to inaugurate its work in Africa, coinciding with the ship's first operational service in Senegal.
The specially designed hospital decks form the unique heart of the ship, comprising six operating theaters and inpatient wards with a capacity for 200 patients, a laboratory, a day hospital, and ophthalmology and dental clinics. The ship can accommodate up to 950 crew members on board when docked in port, including a crew of 641 aid workers, comprised of volunteers from around the world. The Global Mercy is specially equipped with state-of-the-art training areas to enable Mercy Ships to contribute to the sustainable development of essential surgical and related skills among local healthcare professionals while the ship is in port.
Mercy Ships – Ships of Hope hopes to more than double the charity's current impact with life-changing surgeries and training of health professionals over the ship's estimated 50-year lifespan.
The Global Mercy is the result of an international collaboration. With an overall length of 174 meters, a beam of 28.6 meters, and a gross tonnage of 37,000 tons, the vessel is a custom-built passenger ship. As the first of its class, the ship was built at the Tianjin Xingang Shipyard in China, with the project managed by Stena RoRo AB of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the construction design carried out by Deltamarin of Turku, Finland. The French shipping agent Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS) played a key role in negotiating the contract. The new ship is classified by Lloyd's Register in the UK, which was present to oversee these important trials. The Global Mercy flies the Maltese flag and will initially operate in Africa.
As the world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy has garnered significant global attention since construction began in 2015. It has a draft of 6.15 meters and a cruising speed of 12 knots. This new vessel is the first ship built entirely from design to commissioning by the charity, as all previous ships had to be adapted from existing vessels built for other purposes. The Global Mercy will join the current flagship, the Africa Mercy, serving sub-Saharan and central Africa.
