Floating Hospital Sails Towards ‘Ship of the Year’ Final
03 March 2008, The world’s largest charity hospital ship has been nominated for ‘Ship of the Year’ at this year’s prestigious Lloyds List awards.
The MV Africa Mercy – currently providing free surgeries and healthcare to the people of Liberia – left the UK in May last year on its inaugural sail to serve the poor of Africa, following its conversion from a Danish rail ferry into a state-of-the-art hospital ship.
The bespoke Africa Mercy is staffed entirely by volunteer crew and is run by the international charity Mercy Ships, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Its conversion from a rail ferry into a pioneering hospital ship, with six operating theatres and a 78-bed ward, has allowed the charity to double its capacity in Africa.
Taking place at The Natural History Museum in London on 2nd April, the Lloyds List awards celebrate excellence within the shipping industry, with a special focus on performance and innovation and the Africa Mercy is one of the finalists in the ‘Ship of the Year’ category.
Judy Polkinhorn, Executive Director of Mercy Ships UK said: “I am thrilled that the Africa Mercy is a finalist at these prestigious awards. The ship’s conversion required careful strategic planning to create not only a hospital but also a home to more than 450 volunteer crew members. The Africa Mercy is a truly unique ship that demonstrates performance and innovation like no other and we are exceptionally proud of it.”
The Lloyds List awards are a benchmark for excellence and a celebration of innovation in the shipping industry. The Africa Mercy is the latest hospital ship run by Mercy Ships and it endeavours to honour its predecessors by continuing to address the needs of thousands of disadvantaged people in Africa.
Over the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has worked in over 70 countries providing services valued at more than £350million.
The charity has treated more than 230,000 people in village medical clinics, performed more than 35,000 life changing operations, 190,000 dental treatments and completed over 950 construction and agriculture projects, including schools, clinics, orphanages and water wells.
For further information, please contact Lois Boyle at Media House on +44 141 220 6040 or lois@mediahouse.co.uk
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