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The hospital can’t get there without the ship

Captain Taylor Perez has spent decades bringing his maritime experience aboard Mercy Ships, captaining every ship in the fleet and becoming the first captain of the Global Mercy™.

Sector Maritime
Location Lindale, Texas, États-Unis

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For Taylor, maritime volunteering isn't separate from the medical mission. The ship is what makes the hospital possible, and skilled maritime professionals are what keep it moving safely from one country to the next.

  • Captain Taylor Perez has brought his maritime experience to every Mercy Ships vessel, helping navigate hospital ships safely to the countries and communities they serve.

Captain Taylor Perez has brought his maritime experience to every Mercy Ships vessel, helping navigate hospital ships safely to the countries and communities they serve.

A career that found a different purpose

Taylor's connection with Mercy Ships began unexpectedly in 1984, when his ship stopped in Hawaii on its way from the United States to Asia. The Anastasis was docked nearby, and an invitation to lunch introduced him to a community that immediately caught his attention.

He began volunteering during his time off. More than four decades later, he has captained every Mercy Ships vessel at some point in its history.

This is where I feel called right now. I have confidence about that.
Captain Taylor Perez · Maritime · USA

40+ years of bringing maritime skills to a different kind of mission

From the Anastasis to the Global Mercy™, Taylor has captained every Mercy Ships vessel and helped generations of hospital ships reach the people they were built to serve.

More than getting from A to B

Taylor Perez, GLM Captain, congratulates Richard Awagah, now Assistant Bosun on the GLM, during the Deck Promotion Ceremony and combined GLM and AFM Community Gathering on the dock.
Taylor Perez, GLM Captain, congratulates Richard Awagah, now Assistant Bosun on the GLM, during the Deck Promotion Ceremony and combined GLM and AFM Community Gathering on the dock.

A hospital ship needs far more than a captain. Deck officers, engineers, electricians, mechanics, ratings and other maritime professionals work together to keep the vessel safe and operational.

Their work happens largely outside the operating room, but every surgery aboard depends on it.

If you want to be stretched and make an impact in the world, this is an amazing place to do it.
Captain Taylor Perez

Could your maritime skills take you somewhere different?

You already have the skills to keep a ship moving. What if those same skills could help bring a hospital closer to people waiting for care? Whether you're a deck officer, engineer, electrician, mechanic or experienced seafarer, your professional skills could have a place aboard.

Volunteer your skills

Meet the Crew Behind the Ship