World’s Largest Civilian Hospital Ship, the Global Mercy®, to Arrive Soon in Antwerp with Canadian Volunteers

ANTWERP, BELGIUM - 1 September 2021 -In the run-up to theInternational Day of Charity(Sunday 5 September), Mercy Ships is announcing good news. TheGlobal Mercy,the newest hospital ship of Mercy Ships, is almost in Antwerp. Local citizens are being invited to line the river to watch the ship sail in.

TheGlobal Mercycompleted its journey through the Suez Canaland the ship is currently headed to Malta. The ship is in the last leg of the journey to the Port of Antwerp, where it will be further outfitted and crewed from September 2021 to February 2022.

-

Unique international and national cooperation

The Senegalese and Egyptian governments facilitated the passage of theGlobal Mercythrough the Suez Canal, so that the ship could pass through free of charge. This unique gesture allows Mercy Ships to save many thousands of extra lives in Africa in the long run.

Darryl Anderson, Executive Director of Mercy Ships Canada stated,"it was encouraging to our entire team to see that 17 Canadian volunteers have already made a commitment to be part of the Global Mercy equipping phase. Several of the individuals will serve as operations project assistants. There is also a group from Misericordia Community Hospital who will set up the Operating Room Sterile Processing area, as well as a nurse who will be part of the team involved in equipping the new hospital ships operating room".

President Macky Sall of Senegal says:"I have seen and experienced with my own eyes that Mercy Ships is a wonderful organization thatbrings hope and healing to manyAfrican countries. We will welcome theGlobal Mercywith open arms in the spring of 2022 and give our full support at the start of its first missioninAfrica.We are very grateful for the indispensable support of so manytoactually help my countryand my people."

Port of Antwerp also made the arrival of theGlobal Mercyin Antwerp possible by offering a free berth and support. Volunteers from home and abroad will set up and finish theGlobal Mercythere as the largest private hospital ship in the world. This includes the installation of medical equipment and IT systems, as well as the supply and crewing of the ship for its first mission.

"This unique project is a highlight in the collaboration between Port of Antwerp and Mercy Ships. The social commitment in the port community is very high, so we are not alone in our support. Dozens of companies in our port already support Mercy Ships structurally and will do the same in the equipping of theGlobal Mercy. Mercy Ships and the wonderful work they do are close to the heart of the Port of Antwerp,"says Annick De Ridder, chairman of the Port and Alderman of Antwerp.

-

Doubling of impact in Africa

TheGlobal Mercywill be the 'partner ship' of the current hospital ship, theAfrica Mercy.Mercy Ships expects to more than double the impact of its work with the new vessel, both with life-changing operations and with education and training of local caregivers in the poorest countries in Africa. During its missions, theGlobal Mercycan accommodate no less than 950 people, including 641 crew members, who consist of volunteers from all over the world. In addition to the hospital, the ship also has first-class training facilities with which Mercy Ships contributes to the sustainable development of local medical care in many countries.

-

Largest private hospital ship in the world

TheGlobal Mercyis a unique ship in the passenger class: 174 meters long, 28.6 meters wide and a gross tonnage of 37,000. It has 6 operating rooms, 200 beds, a laboratory, general outpatient clinics and eye and dental clinics. The total area of the hospital department is 7,000 m.

The ship was delivered and left the shipyard in China at the end of July, after successfully carrying out mandatory sea trials.

TheGlobal Mercywill make a stop in Rotterdam for two weeks in March 2022 where the charity intends to make public visits onboard possible.

In the spring of 2022, Mercy Ships hopes to be able to start active service with theGlobal Mercyin Dakar (Senegal), the first of many new missions in the next 50 years.

-

About Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships makes medical and surgical care accessible to the poorest in the world. More than 1,000 professional volunteers work for free every year and pay for their own travel and accommodation costs. With the arrival of theGlobal Mercy,that will eventually be about 3,000 volunteers.

Mercy Ships is still looking for motivated volunteers who will help put the finishing touches to the equipping of theGlobal Mercyin Antwerp. Applications can be made through thewebsite.