Skip to content

Why a hospital ship?

What if the hospital could come closer?

A hospital ship brings a fully equipped surgical hospital directly to a port, bringing specialist teams, technology and training together in one place.

  • 38 of Africa's 54 countries have a coastline
  • 40%+ of the world's population lives within 100 km of a coastline
  • One ship brings an entire surgical hospital

The hospital can travel

Safe surgery needs far more than an operating theatre. It needs specialist teams, anaesthesia, diagnostics, sterile equipment, reliable infrastructure, recovery care and rehabilitation.

When the Global Mercy™ or Africa Mercy® docks, a working surgical hospital arrives with it. Operating theatres, equipment, specialist teams and training spaces come together in one place. When the field service ends, the hospital ship can travel to another partner nation.

  • The Global Mercy, moored at its home port of Valletta, is the world's largest civilian hospital ship, designed to provide free surgical care and medical training to people in Africa.

The Global Mercy, moored at its home port of Valletta, is the world's largest civilian hospital ship, designed to provide free surgical care and medical training to people in Africa.

Why it works?

  1. The hospital can travel

    A mobile hospital can serve different partner nations over time.

  2. Everything comes together

    Essential surgical infrastructure, equipment and expertise are concentrated in one place.

  3. Specialist teams work around the patient

    Different clinical disciplines can collaborate within one hospital environment.

  4. Care and learning happen side by side

    Clinical care creates opportunities for training, mentoring and shared learning.

  5. Each field service is a partnership

    Programs are developed with governments, healthcare leaders and local partners.

More than a hospital

A hospital ship also needs to function as a community.

Two hospital ships. One mission.

Meet the Global Mercy and Africa Mercy, two floating hospitals bringing people, expertise and surgical care together in partnership with African nations.

Global Mercy

The world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy is designed to deliver surgery and provide advanced training at scale.

  • 6 operating theatres
  • 199 patient beds
  • 640 crew capacity
  • 174 m long
Global Mercy

Africa Mercy

Serving African nations since 2007, the Africa Mercy combines specialized surgical care with healthcare training and partnership.

  • 5 operating theatres
  • 85 patient beds
  • 470 crew capacity
  • 152 m long
Africa Mercy

The ship can leave. The impact can continue

Video

Video

For a patient, a hospital ship can mean access to surgery that changes what comes next. For a healthcare professional, strengthened expertise can reach patients for years to come

From port to port. Partnership to partnership.

Mercy Ships' hospital ships have served countries around the world since 1978. Today, the focus is on African nations, where each field service is developed alongside national governments, healthcare professionals and partners.

FAQ

What is a hospital ship?

A hospital ship is a vessel equipped to provide medical care at sea or while docked in port. Mercy Ships operates civilian hospital ships designed to provide specialized surgical care and support healthcare training and education.

Why does Mercy Ships use hospital ships?

Hospital ships allow Mercy Ships to bring a fully equipped surgical environment, specialist healthcare professionals and training facilities to partner nations by sea.

Why use a hospital ship instead of building a hospital?

A permanent hospital serves one location. A hospital ship can travel between partner nations, bringing specialist surgical infrastructure, equipment and expertise together on one platform. Mercy Ships works alongside existing healthcare systems rather than replacing them.

How does a Mercy Ships hospital ship work?

The ship docks in a partner nation and operates as a surgical hospital during a field service. Patients receive free specialized surgical care while healthcare professionals can participate in training, mentoring and education.

What are the Mercy Ships hospital ships called?

Mercy Ships currently operates two hospital ships: the Global Mercy™ and the Africa Mercy®.

Is surgery aboard Mercy Ships free?

Yes. Surgical care provided to patients by Mercy Ships is free of charge.

See what a hospital ship can make possible

The ship brings the hospital closer. People, expertise and partnership turn that opportunity into care.

See life-changing surgery