First purpose-built hospital ship delivered in China

The world’s largest civilian hospital ship, Global Mercy, has been delivered to the charity organisation, Mercy Ships, at Tianjin Xingang Shipyard in China.

Stena RoRo has managed the project so far and the company has recruited a crew from its Northern Marine Manning Services subsidiary to sail the purpose-built vessel from China to Belgium.

The Global Mercy will then complete its outfit of medical equipment and take on volunteers in preparation for a voyage to Dakar, Senegal, where it will provide medical support for some of the world’s poorest people.

The 174m-long, 28.6m-wide 37,000gt vessel has six operating theatres, beds for 200 people, a laboratory, an eye clinic, and training facilities. It is the first ship to have been designed and built to meet the specific needs of Mercy Ships.

Per Westling, managing director of Stena RoRo, commented: “We are very proud to take delivery of this special ship. The activities to be carried out on board have placed certain special and stringent demands on shipbuilding. For the shipyard, it was the first time they had built a vessel of this type – a challenge they have managed extremely well. “For Mercy Ships, the delivery means that their capacity to provide care has more than doubled and, at Stena RoRo, we are happy to be a part of their fantastic work through the construction of the Global Mercy.”

The vessel is classed by Lloyd’s Register, will fly the flag of Malta, and will operate along the African coast.