Mercy Ships is unveiling to the public details of its new hospital ship under construction in China.
It is expected that during its 50-year predicted lifespan, surgical procedures alone on the 37,000 gross ton vessel will improve the lives of more than 150,000 people.
The ship, to be named Global Mercy, is at an advanced stage of construction by Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry.
When delivered it will more than double the number of people who can be served with free medical care in Africa, as well as increasing capacity for training local healthcare professionals.
Global Mercy, which will join the existing, 16,572-gt Africa Mercy (built 1980), will have six operating theaters and house over 600 volunteers from around the world—surgeons, nurses, maritime crew, cooks, electricians, teachers and many more.
The Global Mercy will join the current flagship Africa Mercy, more than doubling the impact of volunteers and services provided by the charity.
