Hospital vessel for civil purposes Global Mercy has ended up seagoing tests in deep water area and is due to sail for Belgium to get equipped prior to the commencement of its mission in Africa at the beginning of the next year.
The duration of the trials reached a few days. They included tests of engines, how much fuel is consumed; tests of equipment for navigation and radio purposes and safety records. These trials are aimed at ensuring that all the systems on board of the vessel are in good order and condition, and that all the requirements are adhered to.
The construction of the vessel started almost 8 years ago at the shipyard in the northern China in cooperation with Stena RoRo company. The ship has shown impressive results at the final stage of testing. It is the first ship of this type that has ever been built there.
The project was aimed at making passenger and cargo ships of RoRo class fully fitted with hospital facilities.
Global Mercy is more than 170 metres long with more than 35,000 GWT, having hospital beds for 200 people, 6 operating theatres, one lab, a clinic for patients etc. Some facilities for training activities are still to be equipped.
There are educational establishments for older children and kids, as well as accommodations for families, children and other people.
Overall, the vessel can accommodate almost 1,000 people, 2/3 of whom will be crew members.
Its first voyage the vessel will make to the Port of Antwerp to finish final preparations and then it will sail to the Port of Rotterdam for presentation to all parties concerned, including investors.
Further on it will go to West Africa under the flag of Malta, where the other vessel of same type, Africa Mercy, is already waiting.
Mercy Ships company is planning to hold the event the next year in Dakar. It is expected that 600 volunteers from all over the world will become a part of crew to make medical care system in Africa better.
The company is proud of their vessel that will be able to help a lot of struggling people in need.