A pioneering agreement between the MSC Group, the MSC Foundation and the charity Mercy Ships International is preparing the construction of a hospital ship that will offer free surgery and training annually to thousands of people in Africa.
On April 8, MSC Group and MSC Foundation Chairman Captain Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Group Chairman and MSC Foundation Board Member Diego Aponte, and Mercy ShipsDon Stephens, finalized an agreement to launch this new project with a generous initial donation from the MSC Foundation, reflecting the leaders' commitment to supporting access to critical healthcare for future generations.
“I spent part of my childhood and my early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, a region that is very close to my heart. I have seen firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities, and this has convinced me that improving the availability of healthcare would have a real and lasting impact on them.”.
“It has been very rewarding to work with Don and provide this crucial support through his unique organization, Mercy Ships. Our partnership has already yielded extraordinary results, and we are now about to expand his fleet to further increase this support. I look forward to seeing this new vessel set sail to help more communities across Africa,” said Captain Aponte, Founder of the MSC Group.
Since Mercy Ships was founded in 1978, the organization has performed more than 117,000 transformative, specialized surgical procedures. These surgeries include maxillofacial reconstructions, release of contractures from severe burns, correction of orthopedic problems in children, cleft lip and palate repair, and ophthalmology and dental services.
Mercy Ships is also committed to strengthening the capacities of local healthcare systems through sustainably designed surgical education, training, and advocacy programs. Mercy Ships has provided additional training to more than 54,300 local professionals in their areas of expertise.
Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships, reaffirmed Mercy Ships' vision of serving African nations with safe surgical care and education. “The investment of many around the world in a fleet of hospital ships will be further strengthened by the future of our new purpose-built vessel. Mercy Ships' mission to bring hope and healing is only possible thanks to the generosity of our partners, our volunteer crew, and God's provision. Today, I thank MSC for their support.
MSC and Mercy Ships have been partners since 2011, and the MSC Group guarantees logistical support and containerized supply delivery to all ports of service. The infrastructure support and logistical expertise provided by their teams in Africa range from MSC's local shipping agency and the MSC and TiL terminals that handle cargo to MSC and MEDLOG's logistics, warehousing, and inland transport services.
In addition to this, MSC has provided extensive technical advice and expertise in preparing the new vessel, working with Mercy Ships to develop a design that improves efficiency for the organization's needs.
The new ship will have living quarters to accommodate approximately 600 crew members and guests. Its two-deck, 7,000-square-meter hospital will feature six operating rooms, a fully equipped laboratory, and state-of-the-art training facilities, including a simulation lab. This will allow Mercy Ships to bolster local surgical systems during its typical 10-month stay in port.
Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships, stated: “This new hospital ship will bring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support the nations we serve. This new vessel and its future crew will allow us to meet surgical needs while supporting host nations in developing their healthcare systems with their next generation of medical professionals.”
Diego Aponte, President of the MSC Group and Member of the Board of Directors of the MSC Foundation, said: “I have always been passionate about Africa and was impressed by the extraordinary and honorable nature of Don’s initiative when it was first presented, and this made me want to get involved in a meaningful way.”
“Mercy Ships provides tangible and concrete support to thousands of families across the region, and with the MSC Group’s significant presence there, we have a duty to give back to local communities. This vessel is another milestone in our vision to support the African continent in achieving a truly prosperous and sustainable future.”
“As the world’s largest shipping company, the MSC Group’s global reach and unparalleled expertise in navigation and logistics align perfectly with Mercy Ships’ noble objectives, amplifying the power of compassion beyond borders. From the outset of this partnership more than 12 years ago, we understood that we were uniquely positioned to enable Mercy Ships to focus its humanitarian work in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Daniela Picco, Executive Director of the MSC Foundation, stated: “We are extremely proud of our support for Mercy Ships through grants and in-kind donations and of the transformative impacts that its free services and training have had on 18,000 medical professionals and community leaders, and on 30,300 patients of all ages through 33,200 surgeries since 2011.”
"When discussions began with Don Stephens, Founder of Mercy Ships, about building a new ship together, I was happy to facilitate this transformative commitment to accompany Mercy Ships for decades to come.".
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