The "Africa Mercy", the world's largest floating hospital. Photo: Debra Bell, Timmy Baskerville, Josh Callow Michelle Murrey & Ruben Plomp/Mercy Ships.

Africa Mercy is the world’s largest civilian hospital ship and offers much-needed medical help to thousands of people in developing countries every year.

“When we’re hot, sweaty and dirty down in the engine room, we sometimes lose track of what’s happening on the upper decks,” admits Mick Dunne, the Second Engineer on Africa Mercy. “Mostly, though, we’re acutely aware that the medical teams rely on us. They need us to provide oxygen and power as they carry out life-changing operations and procedures.” The engineers may have seemingly normal maritime routines and duties, but the Africa Mercy is no ordinary vessel. Not anymore. In her previous life, as Dronning Ingrid, the ship ferried rail carriages around the Danish Straits for the Danish State Railways. Today, she is the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. Dedicated to the continent of Africa, since 2007 she has brought state-of-the-art healthcare to the poorest of the poor – thanks to the Christian aid organization Mercy Ships, and the committed efforts of a unique crew. 

With more than 450 crew members on board at one time, between 1,500 and 2,000 people from up to 40 nations serve on the floating hospital each year. Many spend anything between a few weeks to several years on the ship, often many times over many years. It is this longterm commitment to Africa Mercy that makes it work. It requires substantial sacrifice, too, as most crew members are volunteers, even those who stay for years. As such, they are required to raise enough funds to pay for their own travel costs, crew accommodation, and food on board during their service, while at the same time losing out on any income.

Sacrifices for a common goal

Dr. Itengré Ouédraogo, who is originally from Burkina Faso and normally works as the Chief Medical Officer in a mission hospital in Niger, has served several times on board Africa Mercy. Motivated by a desire to be useful to others and his strong faith, Ouédraogo has provided surgery to women who have sustained traumatic childbirth injuries. In much of the developing world, basic obstetric care is not available, so women must live with, or die from, the effects of unattended childbirth. Moreover, they are often treated as outcasts by their families or villages. In an average week on Africa Mercy, Ouédraogo operates on more than 10 patients and feels he is able to repair their broken homes. “I’ve seen women who came without hope to the ship, and left it with a smile and a feeling of thanksgiving,” he says. 

As in any hospital, the nurses play a key role in providing the necessary healthcare on Africa Mercy. Maryke du Preez, from Pretoria, South Africa, served as the leader of the maxillofacial team for an 18-month stint funded by friends, family, and sponsors, and has witnessed heartbreaking conditions. “Some patients brought me to tears more than once,” she says. “It’s impossible to imagine their suffering before they reached us.” Nonetheless, it was still the most rewarding experience for her, emotionally and spiritually. “To me, there is nothing more beautiful than desperate people receiving hope.” Elisabeth Rostved, a Danish surgical nurse, has served three times, taking care of patients before and after surgery. For her, contributing to the stories of personal transformation, especially of children, remains special. “To be part of the healing, knowing that they can grow up to have a normal life, is truly a privilege,” she adds.

Remote areas need expert support

Back down below, Mick Dunne, who served 23 years in the Royal Australian Navy as a Marine Engineer Officer, is keeping the power supply running. The four MAN 21/31 GenSets – installed at favorable conditions in 2010 to power the floating hospital’s medical equipment – make his life much easier, he says. As the person who is responsible for operations and maintenance in the engine room, he is grateful that he has modern machinery in such a remote part of the world. “It’s a real challenge working in areas without proper infrastructure, without sufficient resources, which is why the close partnership with MAN is crucial for us, particularly for rapid technical support,” he explains. Dunne has lived on board with his wife and three sons since 2013, and will probably stay another four years. The family has given up a lot, but they feel more satisfied by their choice.

Since installing the GenSets, MAN has been committed to offering support as well as providing spare parts, equipment, and servicing at greatly reduced rates, and also with comprehensive crew training sessions with MAN PrimeServ engineers. Over the years, the commitment has grown. Recently, MAN’s ongoing engagement and support for Africa Mercy was formalized as a proper sponsorship agreement and covers spare parts with an annual cost of €250,000. “Such a partnership is essential to the ship, and also for us to uphold our company’s values and sense of social responsibility,” says Poul Knudsgaard, Vice President MAN Diesel & Turbo (Denmark). Having been on board, Knudsgaard has felt the crew’s commitment firsthand. “It was a most humbling experience,” he says. “Our direct involvement makes me extremely proud.”

Dunne is also appreciative of the partnership, and especially of the fast turnaround of technical queries. He highlights a recent case where he e-mailed a photo of the equipment to MAN PrimeServ one evening, only to have the solution in his inbox the next morning. “It’s a blessing to have the support of such a large company worldwide that helps us keep the operations afloat and running smoothly,” he says. The partnership with MAN not only supports the engineers, but it also means that expenses that would otherwise be necessary for maintenance can instead be spent on patient care.

Long-term commitment

Since her transformation in 2007 into the largest civilian hospital ship in the world, Africa Mercy has cruised along the coast of Africa. Currently, she is docked in the port of Cotonou, Benin, for the fifth time, for a 10-month field service until June 2017. By then, the team of medical volunteers is expected to perform 1,700 surgeries on board, as well as treat more than 8,000 people at a dental clinic on land. In Benin, a country with a population of 10.6 million, but only six physicians for every 100,000 citizens, access to adequate medical care is beyond the reach of many. With the average life expectancy a mere 59 years, the region has a dire need for the skills of the crew.

Although most of the volunteer crew members are only on board for short stints, their passion for helping and healing gels them quickly together into a team. This tight community is bringing first-world, cutting-edge healthcare to the people of Africa.