Hospital Ship
Africa Mercy to be Launched
A global charity operating a growing fleet of hospital ships will soon launch its newest Africa Mercy ship, which is expected to double the number of medical beneficiaries than it is currently serving. Slated to go active in April off the Port of London, the former Danish rail ferry will be the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship as Texas-based Mercy Ships says goodbye to two veteran ships - Anastasis and the Caribbean Mercy. Best practices from the two retiring ships were used as a base line in designing the hospital, public areas and crew accommodations on the Africa Mercy. While the former cruise liners were converted into hospital ships, the organization's newest vessel will have a purpose-built hospital, allowing for greater numbers to be cared for. The $62 million project, which includes state-of-the-art hospital facilities, is being launched through sponsors and patrons of the Africa Mercy project, which is undergoing the final stages of its conversion. (Source: Christian Post)
This Day in Navy History
1775 - The first prize, the British supply ship, Unity, was captured by the Continental schoonerHannah. 1776 - David Bushnell attempts to destroy a British Ship of the Line, HMS Asia, in New York harbor with his submarine Turtle. 1942 - First air evacuation of casualties to hospital ships off shore occurs at Guadalcanal.
A&P Tyne to Convert Ferry
A&P Tyne Limited has signed a contract with Mercy Ships Limited to convert a former Danish rail ferry now named Africa Mercy to a hospital ship for service in Africa. The conversion will take place over an 18-month period and will include the upgrading of the existing vessel, to carry some 400 persons and a hospital facility with 6 operating theatres; 78 hospital beds and an intensive care unit. Dave Skentelbery
This Day in Naval History - Dec. 21
From the Navy News Service 1861 - Congress declares Naval personnel eligible for the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award. 1943 - USS Grayling (SS 208) sinks its fourth Japanese ship in three days. 1951 - The first helicopter landing aboard a hospital ship takes place aboard USS Consolation (AH 15). 1968 - Apollo 8 is launched with Capt. James A. Lovell Jr. as Command Module Pilot. During the mission, Lovell becomes one of the first three people to see the far side of the moon
54th Ship to Depart James River Reserve Fleet
The Vulcan is scheduled to be towed from the James River Reserve Fleet on Tuesday, December 19th. It will be the 54th ship to leave the James River site for recycling since January 1, 2001. The Vulcan, a former Navy repair ship built in 1941, which will leave the James River site to be dismantled at Bay Bridge Enterprises, LLC, of Chesapeake, Va., under the terms of a contract worth $494,000. The Vulcan has a small niche in Naval history
US Hospital Ship Aids Vietnam Province
'USNS Mercy' anchors in Cua Lo Port to bring humanitarian & civic assistance to Nghe An, Vietnam, Province The hospital ship called at the port as part of the 'Pacific Partnership 2012'. A number of re-planned engagements will be carried out with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force amphibious ship Oosumi between July 10 and 24. They include two engineering, six medical and dental and four veterinary civil action programs
Mercy Ship Arrives in Post-Election Liberia
The Mercy Ship Anastasis has docked in Monrovia, Liberia. Thousands struggle to survive in this war-torn country where elections have recently taken place after 14 years of civil war. Mercy Ships had an election observer in Monrovia for the recent first round of the presidential and legislative elections. The second round is scheduled for November 8th. In Liberia there is only one physician per 50,000[1] people
USNS Mercy Arrives in Hawaii
The Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) pulls into Pearl Harbor for a scheduled port visit. Mercy is making its first stop during a humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Justin P. Nesbitt U.S Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived here May 2, making its first stop during a humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.
USNS Pathfinder Kicks off Capabilities Demonstration
Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder kicked off its scheduled at-sea capabilities demonstration Sept. 7 after departing . During the at-sea demonstration, Pathfinder is searching for Soviet-flagged hospital ship SS Armenia which was sunk during World War II. Civilian surveyors from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, Ukrainian sailors, surveyors and historians and a team of civilian oceanographers from the U.S
USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) Anemometer Positioning Evaluation (APE) Testing Completed
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) completed Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH19) Anemometer Positioning Evaluation (APE) testing in support of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Military Sealift Command (MSC), Feb. 8. The testing focused on measuring the airflow of anemometers, wind measurement sensors that are installed on the superstructure of U.S. Navy ships. The APE testing is required to complete the aviation certification
First 3-D Printer Ship Model
Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock complete a fabricated model of the hospital ship 'USNS Comfort'. The state-of-the-art 3-D printer, which is one of four in the United States, provides Carderock with the capability to deliver large, complex ship models
Mercy Ships Expand Reach to Central Africa
Protocols have been signed for a Mercy Hospital Ship to dock in Congo-Brazzaville’s western port city of Pointe Noire. Meetings with the Republic of the Congo’s Ministries of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Congo-Brazzaville’s western port city of Pointe Noire
Mercy Ship Visited by President of Guinea
Professor Alpha Condé, President of Guinea, tours the 'Africa Mercy' hospital ship, docked at the Port of Conakry, the capital of Guinea. Donovan Palmer, Managing Director and International Vice-President of Mercy Ships, the Senior Management Team and over 100 Mercy Ships volunteers were
Thai Speedboats Collide: 18 Injured
18 South Korean tourists were injured, two critically, when two speedboats ferrying them to Pattaya's Koh Larn collided. The crash took place about 800 metres offshore from Koh Larn's Tawaen beach and 10 injured tourists were sent to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and 8 to Pattaya Memorial Hospital
Mercy Ships' "Walking Bloodbank"
Charitable Hospital Ship 'Africa Mercy' family members commemorate World Blood Donor Day, join the 'walking blood bank' The humanitarian organization Mercy Ships is taking the day to celebrate the heroic role that numerous blood donors play onboard its hospital ship, the Africa Mercy
TK Foundation Approves Maritime Education/Research Funding
The TK Foundation has announced the approval of eight grants totalling nearly $2 million. The TK Foundation is a strong funding vehicle for maritime programs and youth development. Its maritime grant-making program is proactive, inviting maritime organizations to submit requests for funding
Fendercare's Rowlands Cares for Olympic Torch
On Wednesday July 4, Paul Rowlands, Marketing Executive for Fendercare Marine was given the honor of being an official Olympic Torchbearer and carrying the flame through Fakenham, Norfolk. Paul was nominated to carry the torch in recognition of his fundraising efforts
Mercy Ship Arrives in Guinea
The Port of Conakry in Guinea welcomes the 'Africa Mercy' – the world’s largest private charitable hospital ship. Previous assignments to the West African nation took place in 1992 and 1999. For the next ten months the state-of-the-art hospital ship, with six operating theatres
Thousands Queue at Hospital Ship in W.African Guinea
Over 4,300 people queue for mass screening hoping for an appointment card leading to life changing surgery aboard 'African Mercy'. In drizzling rain several hundred people joined the queue, and by daybreak they started to come in their thousands; this was no grand final
USNS Mercy Returns Following Humanitarian Mission in SE Asia
Seventy civil service mariners, and approximately 400 Navy, Army and non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 20) returned to San Diego Sept. 14. They steamed more than 20
Five Killed Aboard Dubai-bound Tankship
A leaking pipe in the compressor room of the tankship 'MV Maharshi Krishnatreya' on passage from Mangalore caused the accident. Five sailors were killed and another injured after a gas leak on the tanker, reports The National. The vessel's chief officer, gas engineer
DMAIB Publishes 'Maersk Champion' Fire Report
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) reports on the fire that occured on board in early 2012. On 9 January 2012, a fire broke out in the ship’s hospital of the AHTS vessel Maersk Champion that was engaged in tanker lifting/heading control off the Brazilian coast.
Gulf Platform Fire: Two Missing Four Badly Burned
Coast Guard search continues for missing personnel following blaze on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico The fire on a shallow-water drilling oil production platform began while workers were using a torch to cut an oil line, reports Associated Press, and was brought under control within hours
Brit Ferry Passengers Seriously Injured in Pizza Fight
Two fights occured on the ferry 'Pride of Rotterdam' on passage from Hull, UK to Rotterdam; one was over a slice of pizza. Two British passengers on a Dutch-bound ferry were airlifted to hospital in serious condition after two separate fights onboard, including one over a slice of pizza
TK Foundation Donates to Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships Maritime Training Center buys breathing apparatus with part of a US$225,750 grant from TK Foundation. Since 1978, Mercy Ships has used hospital ships to deliver world-class medical care to developing countries with limited available medical care