Mercy Ships - Experts & Thought Leaders

Mercy Ships has been given a significant boost for upcoming construction work on the medical charity’s latest newbuild hospital ship after being unveiled at a recent conference as this year’s official charity partner by the maritime branch of the Federation of Norwegian Industries, representing hundreds of maritime equipment suppliers, designers and shipyards. Norwegian maritime sector “We are keen to engage with the Norwegian maritime sector to procure the resources and expertise we need to execute this state-of-the-art newbuild project and believe this can also be a prestigious reference to bolster the market reputation of suppliers,” says Martin Aarflot, National Director of Mercy Ships Norway. Aarflot presented the work of Mercy Ships at the annual Verftskonferansen hosted by the federation’s maritime branch in Ålesund earlier this month where he told over 400 delegates: “With wealth comes responsibility. The wining and dining budget of this conference alone would represent a substantial donation.” Timeline for newbuild China’s Guangzhou Shipyard, under a newbuild accord with shipbuilding empire CSSC Holdings Mercy Ships is expanding its fleet with a third hospital ship, in addition to the Global Mercy and Africa Mercy, after securing financial support for the newbuild from the charitable foundation of container shipping giant MSC Group earlier this year. The purpose-built 174.1m vessel, with 7000 square metres of hospital space spanning two decks, will have six operating rooms, a fully equipped laboratory and training facilities, as well as accommodation for 600 crew and guests. It will be constructed at China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International under a newbuild contract with shipbuilding conglomerate CSSC Holdings. Construction work is set to kick off with steel-cutting in December 2025 followed by keel-laying and launch of the hull in the period to November 2026 that will be followed by two years of outfitting prior to scheduled delivery in March 2028, and then a year of equipping hospital facilities, according to a timeline disclosed at the conference. Gaps in the makers’ list “We are still looking to fill gaps in the makers’ list for the newbuild so there remains a lot of potential for Norwegian suppliers to participate in this project. If you want to be part of this new adventure with us, now is the opportunity,” Aarflot told the conference. He says: “Gaining this coveted status as the federation’s chosen charity partner for maritime clearly has great significance for us in terms of recognition and valuable support for our work from the globally renowned Norwegian maritime industry - and we think this is a win-win deal.” Mercy Ships’ humanitarian work Aarflot explains it can serve as a door-opener for Norwegian participation in Mercy Ships’ humanitarian  Aarflot explains it can serve as a door-opener for increased Norwegian participation in Mercy Ships’ humanitarian work in African countries where the charity has to date performed over 117,000 transformative surgeries while training over 54,000 medical professionals to strengthen local healthcare services, impacting the lives of almost three million people, since being founded in 1978. He says more people are dying due to lack of surgery than from war, hunger, malaria and other diseases combined, accounting for some 46,000 deaths daily. Support from suppliers As well as procuring equipment and services, Mercy Ships is looking to boost recruitment for a wide range of voluntary positions onboard its vessels - from seafarers and technicians to catering staff, as well as medical personnel. The industry federation’s Head of Maritime Stål Heggelund says: “Mercy Ships represents a great humanitarian cause that is worthy of our support. By pulling together with the combined expertise and resources of the Norwegian maritime sector, we can make a big difference to our world while supporting the key UN Sustainable Development Goals of Health & Wellbeing and Quality Education.” Engagement of Mercy Ships Norwegian ballast water treatment specialist Optimarin is very positive about the engagement of Mercy Ships as a charity partner by the federation and is certain its view is echoed by other suppliers in the country’s maritime sector. “We are excited at the prospect of being able to contribute to the expansion of Mercy Ships’ important humanitarian work through the latest newbuilding project,” says Optimarin’s EVP Sales & Marketing Tore Andersen. “This also provides a great opportunity for the wider maritime sector to demonstrate its high level of technological competence by delivering innovative top-notch equipment and efficient services that can enhance the capabilities of this new state-of-the-art hospital ship. Norwegian suppliers can be proud of contributing to such a project.”

International charity, Mercy Ships returned to Madagascar to bring transformative surgical education and free, life-changing surgeries.   Freshly refitted hospital ship, the upgraded Africa Mercy® has arrived at the island nation to build on the charity’s long-standing collaboration and will provide specialised surgeries in various fields, including maxillofacial and ear nose and throat, general, pediatric specialised general, pediatric orthopedic, cataract surgery, and reconstructive plastics.  Surgical services But islanders are being urged to wait to hear on local radio stations about small regional patient selection opportunities in their area for certain conditions rather than to make their way to the ship where no selections are happening. A 2016 study of Madagascar revealed that only 20% of the population can access surgical services within a two-hour timeframe, and up to 95% would face financial ruin if they required surgery. With a scarcity of physicians, approximately 20 for every 100,000 people, the prospect of receiving necessary surgical treatment seems unattainable for many.   Education, training, and advocacy The charity will begin by focusing on enhanced partnerships and relationship-building as part of its ETA In Mercy Ships’ fourth field service, with preceding visits in 1996, 2014 - 2016, the charity will begin by focusing on enhanced partnerships and relationship-building as part of its education, training, and advocacy (ETA) programme in combination with building up its surgical schedule. Esperant Mulumba, Mercy Ships Country Director in Madagascar, said, “We plan to spend the weeks following the ship’s arrival running patient registration in several different locations and these details will be released on local radio and advertised in the specified areas of the greatest need." Specialised surgeries Esperant Mulumba adds, "Surgeries can only go ahead for specific conditions when we have a full complement of volunteers to ensure specialised surgeries can happen as planned at the end of May without delays and rescheduling." Esperant Mulumba continues, “Again, prospective patients should wait for updated information to be released through local radio stations – no patient selections will be conducted at the ship.” Quality education and training This focus aligns with a need for quality education and training that emerged in a recent evaluation Mercy Ships is actively collaborating with Madagascar's Ministry of Health to identify the most pressing needs and strengthen the country's surgical systems in the long term. Through the ETA strategy, the organisation aims to increase the number of surgical providers, provide training across the surgical ecosystem, develop sustainable educational programmes, establish a network of healthcare providers, and advocate for the importance of surgery in healthcare globally.  This focus aligns with a need for quality education and training that emerged in a recent evaluation carried out by Mercy Ships in Madagascar.  Surgical training programme Esperant Mulumba said, “There is a huge desire within the health system in Madagascar to improve the quality of education. We will be able to leverage the availability of the ship in the port of Toamasina as a platform through which we can strengthen the surgical training programme that the government has by providing residencies and other sorts of training opportunities for local surgeons, anesthetists, and other professionals of the healthcare system, particularly those related to the surgical ecosystem.”  Surgical and dental care Throughout previous visits, Mercy Ships collaborated with the government and the Ministry of Health to provide more than 6,425 life-changing surgical procedures and over 52,395 dental procedures. In addition to delivering life-changing surgical and dental care, Mercy Ships has a longstanding commitment to education, having trained 2,019 healthcare professionals in the past. Simulation courses Esperant Mulumba continues, “In our last field service, we were able to provide life-transforming, life-changing, life-enabling surgeries that have allowed the people that benefited from them to be part of the communities they come from and allowed certain people to return to their jobs." Esperant Mulumba adds, "They brought a certain dimension of hope that otherwise would not have been experienced an impact that we can't measure. We’re seeing professors that are still teaching the simulation courses that were initiated by Mercy Ships, and we’re seeing the interns that are still benefiting from this.”  Highlights of the refurbishment Highlights of the Africa Mercy’s® refurbishment included an information technology (IT) upgrade enhancing the ship’s operating theatre functionality and performance by enabling seamless coordination between the Africa Mercy® and Mercy Ships’ latest hospital ship, the Global Mercy™, currently serving the nation of Sierra Leone in West Africa. Upgrades will support the provision of essential training for local doctors, fostering the development of in-country healthcare professionals. Additional improvements included the modernisation of the galley, upgrades to the elevator system, and remodeling of several cabin spaces, enabling the ship’s community to better serve those in need of surgical care.  

Accelleron has supported a turbocharger overhaul on the hospital ship - MV Africa Mercy, operated by the non-governmental organisation - Mercy Ships. The support, in the form of discounted labour, will enable the vessel to continue its mission of delivering free medical care and training to people without access to safe surgery, including in some of the world’s most vulnerable developing economies. The 43-year-old vessel, which houses five operating rooms and a recovery ward for more than 80 patients, was drydocked at DORMAC Shipyard in Durban, South Africa following its most recent deployment. Accelleron engineers serviced four main engine VTR320 turbochargers. Accelleron’s service and support Accelleron’s support will reduce the cost burden on a charity providing vital services to communities that need it most, especially in Africa. Crewed by volunteer staff, Mercy Ships partners with each host nation’s health ministries to offer free surgeries and post-operative care, reducing the burden of unmet surgical needs. Africa Mercy is one of two hospital ships run by the organisation and has been serving communities around Africa since 2007. Mercy is one of two hospital ships run by the corps and has been serving wards around Africa The scheduled maintenance of Accelleron turbochargers ensures that Africa Mercy's propulsion engines always run efficiently. Accelleron’s service and support is a direct contribution to maintenance thereby also supporting the Africa Mercy voyages to our field service destinations.  The new corporate partnership with Mercy Ships is part of Accelleron’s extensive and growing portfolio of projects that aim to support people and communities in need. This year the company will contribute to around 15 community projects worldwide, with the aim of growing that number to more than 100 over the next two years. Accelleron and Mercy Ships partnership Ciaran Holden, Director of Operations, Mercy Ships, said: “Accelleron’s support has helped Mercy Ships to maintain our four propulsion engine turbochargers ensuring that she can continue to deliver vital healthcare to patients in vulnerable communities for many years to come. Mercy Ships has been fortunate to be well supported both in funding and in technical expertise by several maritime companies and we are delighted to have the backing of Accelleron as our latest corporate partner.” Roland Schwarz, Accelleron Division President Service, added: “Accelleron aims to be a positive contributor to societies. Where we can use our expertise to do so, it is doubly rewarding. By contributing to the life extension of Africa Mercy, we can help Mercy Ships allocate less of its budget to maintenance and more to saving lives, helping them bring hope and healing to the communities that rely on their presence.”