Meet the Global Mercy

More than 16 million people around the world die every year because they can’t access safe surgical care. As a floating hospital and training center, the Global Mercy is here to change this.

Meet the Global Mercy

More than 16 million people around the world die every year because they can’t access safe surgical care. As a floating hospital and training center, the Global Mercy is here to change this.

Our Newest Hospital Ship

It all started in 2011. After operating repurposed surgical ships for more than 40 years, Mercy Ships decided it was time. Time to bring a new dream to life. Time to impact more people than ever.

It was time to construct the organization’s first purpose-built hospital ship from scratch. This vessel would become the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.

Meet the Global Mercy. After a decade of planning, construction, and collaboration from donors and partners around the globe, the Global Mercy is more than just a dream. She’s a 174-meter, 37,000-ton hospital ship – and she’s preparing to serve in Africa for the first time. As a floating hospital and training center with the capacity for 950 people on board, she’ll be the site of life-transforming surgery for hundreds of thousands of people in her lifespan.

People just like 4-year-old Mansare. Growing up in Guinea with a condition known as bowed legs, he’d always found it difficult to walk, let alone run or play. Walking a short distance down the street was exhausting. But a complicated and expensive surgery was out of the question.

When Mansare received surgery on board a Mercy Ships vessel, it was the first time he’d ever seen his legs straight. After completing his physiotherapy program, Mansare was up and running with a big smile on his face. He was ready to explore, play, and go back to school.

There’s a vast population with limitless potential who are hopeful for healing. With the addition of the Global Mercy, Mercy Ships will be able to help many more people like Mansare.

Commissioning in Dakar, Senegal

The Global Mercy is a dream a decade in the making… and finally, the life-changing journey is about to begin. This summer, the Global Mercy will make her maiden voyage to Africa and join the Africa Mercy® in Senegal. On June 2, the new hospital ship will be officially commissioned in the Port of Dakar by leaders of the Senegalese government as well as visiting heads of state and Mercy Ships partners, crew, and staff.

Following this commissioning, the Global Mercy will begin operating as a floating training center for the very first time, providing a series of medical training programs for Senegalese and visiting healthcare professionals.

Our Newest Hospital Ship

It all started in 2011. After operating repurposed surgical ships for more than 40 years, Mercy Ships decided it was time. Time to bring a new dream to life. Time to impact more people than ever.

It was time to construct the organization’s first purpose-built hospital ship from scratch. This vessel would become the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.

Meet the Global Mercy. After a decade of planning, construction, and collaboration from donors and partners around the globe, the Global Mercy is more than just a dream. She’s a 174-meter, 37,000-ton hospital ship – and she’s preparing to serve in Africa for the first time. As a floating hospital and training center with the capacity for 950 people on board, she’ll be the site of life-transforming surgery for hundreds of thousands of people in her lifespan.

People just like 4-year-old Mansare. Growing up in Guinea with a condition known as bowed legs, he’d always found it difficult to walk, let alone run or play. Walking a short distance down the street was exhausting. But a complicated and expensive surgery was out of the question.

When Mansare received surgery on board a Mercy Ships vessel, it was the first time he’d ever seen his legs straight. After completing his physiotherapy program, Mansare was up and running with a big smile on his face. He was ready to explore, play, and go back to school.

There’s a vast population with limitless potential who are hopeful for healing. With the addition of the Global Mercy, Mercy Ships will be able to help many more people like Mansare.

Commissioning in Dakar, Senegal

The Global Mercy is a dream a decade in the making… and finally, the life-changing journey is about to begin. This summer, the Global Mercy will make her maiden voyage to Africa and join the Africa Mercy in Senegal. On June 2, the new hospital ship will be officially commissioned in the Port of Dakar by leaders of the Senegalese government as well as visiting heads of state and Mercy Ships partners, crew, and staff.

Following this commissioning, the Global Mercy will begin operating as a floating training center for the very first time, providing a series of medical training programs for Senegalese and visiting healthcare professionals.

A few facts about the Global Mercy

– Length: 174 meters

– Weight: 37,000 tons

– 6 operating rooms

– Capacity: Over 600 professional volunteers from around the world representing a variety of disciplines, including surgeons, mariners, cooks, teachers, electricians, reception staff and many more.

– Spaces have been designed to host up to 950 crew and guests, including a 682-seat auditorium, a school, a gymnasium, a pool, a café, a store and a library when the ship is docked.

A few facts about the Global Mercy  

– Length: 174 meters

– Weight: 37,000 tons

– 6 operating rooms

– Capacity: Over 600 professional volunteers from around the world representing a variety of disciplines, including surgeons, mariners, cooks, teachers, electricians, reception staff and many more.

– Spaces have been designed to host up to 950 crew and guests, including a 682-seat auditorium, a school, a gymnasium, a pool, a café, a store and a library when the ship is docked.

Who We Are

Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global faith-based charity that uses hospital ships and volunteer professionals to deliver free specialized surgical care and medical training to build the local healthcare systems with our host nations, focusing in Africa.

Medical Training

Mercy Ships offers free training designed to empower healthcare workers and strengthen local healthcare systems. Instruction is specific to the unique needs of our host nation and planned in collaboration with the National Ministry of Health.

How We Help

Mercy Ships comes alongside our host nation with volunteer professionals to address the immediate surgical needs of a nation, simultaneously training local healthcare workers, and collaboratively building healthcare infrastructure. This approach empowers our host’s sustainable progress and continued development.

Who We Are

Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global faith-based charity that uses hospital ships and volunteer professionals to deliver free specialized surgical care and medical training to build the local healthcare systems with our host nations, focusing in Africa.

Medical Training

Mercy Ships offers free training designed to empower healthcare workers and strengthen local healthcare systems. Instruction is specific to the unique needs of our host nation and planned in collaboration with the National Ministry of Health.

How We Help

Mercy Ships comes alongside our host nation with volunteer professionals to address the immediate surgical needs of a nation, simultaneously training local healthcare workers, and collaboratively building healthcare infrastructure. This approach empowers our host’s sustainable progress and continued development.

Ask Us Anything

We are excited to share our story with you. We believe that a successful collaboration is based on mutual trust. By being transparent with local media and organizations and inviting them to learn more about our mission, we hope to build strong partnerships that will help us achieve our goals.

For this purpose, we have selected for you the most important facts and figures about Mercy Ships.

If you have any questions, please contact us using this form. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Get in Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Please be aware, we’re not taking any referrals through this form. Referrals through messages or email will not be received. Any other message we will try to respond to ASAP.

Ask Us Anything

We are excited to share our story with you. We believe that a successful collaboration is based on mutual trust. By being transparent with local media and organizations and inviting them to learn more about our mission, we hope to build strong partnerships that will help us achieve our goals.

For this purpose, we have selected for you the most important facts and figures about Mercy Ships.

If you have any questions, please contact us using this form. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Get in Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Please be aware, we’re not taking any referrals through this form. Referrals through messages or email will not be received. Any other message we will try to respond to ASAP.