World’s largest civilian hospital ship is open to the public between February 28, 2022, and March 14, 2022, offering free in-person and virtual tours and events.
Rotterdam, February 28, 2022– On February 26, theGlobal Mercy,the new purpose-built hospital ship built byMercy Ships, docked in the Port of Rotterdam. Festivities launched the beginning of a two-week visit that offers the public a unique opportunity to come on board.
Everyone is invited to join theGlobal Mercy Experience;a virtual or in-person tour of the new hospital ship. During theGlobal Mercy’svisit to Rotterdam, the ship’s crew of volunteer professionals will continue to outfit the ship for its final mission: to provide free surgeries to those with little access and to serve as a platform for free training to local healthcare workers in Africa.
On March 15, theGlobal Mercywill depart Dutch shores, setting course for Granadilla, Tenerife for further outfitting before continuing the journey towards Dakar, Senegal to provide medical training in the coming months.
Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships, is delighted with the arrival of theGlobal Mercy: “It’s a great honour to present theGlobal Mercy. Thanks to theGlobal Mercy’sstate-of-the-art facilities, training areas and sheer size, we can make an even bigger impact for people who currently lack access to the surgical care they so desperately need. We are very grateful for the opportunity to welcome visitors aboard our ship — both virtual and in-person and introduce them to our crew and our mission. It’s going to be an exciting two weeks! This visit was made possible thanks to generous partners and major sponsors such as Stena RoRo, Alcon and BD.”
Program
TheGlobal Mercyis open to the public from Monday, February 28, 2022, with online registration. Each day, free interactive tours are available for our visitors: an immersiveGlobal MercyExperience, engaging them in the world of patients, medical volunteers, life on board, surgeries and training Mercy Ships provides on this unique hospital ship.
Virtual and Online Events
A virtual version of theGlobal Mercytour is also available, giving people all around the world the opportunity to enjoy the same experience as our in-person visitors.
In addition, Mercy Ships will hold various online activities that offer schools, churches, corporate and business interests, medical and maritime professionals the opportunity to delve into the work we do in Africa.
Donors, corporate sponsors, and anyone interested in volunteering at Mercy Ships can see for themselves, the positive results of their donations of time, money, or in-kind donations.
The complete program and the opportunity to register for a virtual tour can be found at:www.globalmercy.org.
Doubling Impact in Africa
TheGlobal Mercyjoins the organization’s current hospital ship, theAfrica Mercy. With this new ship, Mercy Ships desire is to double its impact, both with life-changing surgeries, as well as through education and training of local healthcare providers in Africa. When both ships are in full service, Mercy Ships hopes to perform more than 5,000 surgeries, more than 28,000 dental treatments annually, and train more than 2,800 medical professionals a year.
TheGlobal Mercyis 174 meters long and 28.6 meters wide. It has six operating rooms, 200 beds, a laboratory, general outpatient clinics and eye and dental clinics. The total area of the hospital department is 7,000 square meters.
The ship can accommodate 950 people when docked, including 641 crew members, who are made up of volunteers from all over the world. In addition to the hospital, the ship contains the latest training facilities. For more than 30 years Mercy Ships has contributed to the sustainable development of local medical care throughout West and Central Africa.
ABOUT MERCY SHIPS:Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $1 billion, treating more than 2.5 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,600 volunteers from more than 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time.Learn more aboutwho we are.
For More Information:
Contact: Laura Rebouche ́
U.S. National Media Relations Director Mercy Ships
Office:+1 903.939.7000
Direct:+1 903.939.7127
Email:[emailprotected]
mercyships.org
For Int’l: Diane Rickard
International Media Relations Manager Mercy Ships
[emailprotected]
mercyships.org/press
Hi-res photos and general Mercy Ships B-Roll video footage are available upon request.
