Stena RoRo has extensive experience and highly skilled specialists for tailoring vessels for special needs. Even so, the Global Mercy presented special challenges – it had to be built both for voyages over the world’s seas as well as for providing advanced medical care in port. Stena RoRo started from an existing concept for passenger and cargo ships and created a pure passenger ship with hospital and educational facilities. The hull and interiors have been especially designed, car decks were replaced by operating theatres and hospital wards, the ventilation system has been specially adapted and particular care has been taken to minimize sound and vibrations.

The assignment was carried out in a global project involving several European, American and Asian suppliers. Construction took place at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard in northern China, with a team from Stena RoRo on site. The broker was the French Barry Rogliano Salles, BRS, headed by Gilbert Walter.

PROVIDING FREE CARE

The Global Mercy has been built on behalf of the charity Mercy Ships, which helps some of the world’s most vulnerable people by providing free medical care with hospital ships and assistance in building local healthcare capacities. Stena RoRo’s CEO Per Westling was present when the Global Mercy was deployed in Dakar, Senegal, at the end of June. 

“It’s big seeing this project come to a close after so many years of engagement on our part,” he says. “We are extremely proud to have delivered such a special ship and to thereby be a part of Mercy Ship’s amazing work.”

LIFE-CHANGING OPERATIONS

The Global Mercy is the first of Mercy Ship vessels to have been built specifically for their needs. She is 174 meters long and 28.6 meters wide, has twelve decks and space for 200 patients. When in port, the ship can accommodate 950 people, including crew and volunteers from around the world. It has six operating theatres, a laboratory, general outpatient clinics, a dental clinic and an eye clinic. There are also schools and kindergartens for the children of the volunteers.

“The Global Mercy is a unique Swedish and international industrial project,” says Stefan Sonesson, national director of Mercy Ships Sweden. “At the same time, it is a truly powerful demonstration of unique compassion that will make an impact for decades to come for the most vulnerable in Africa. Sustainability from several aspects. Stena RoRo and Stena AB have been invaluable with their knowledge, professionalism and warm commitment to the project. Our gratitude at Mercy Ships is tremendous!”

Lena Alvling in her role as Head of Corporate Identity Stena AB supported Mercy Ships as a pro bono support from Stena AB to Mercy Ships in the planning process as well as during the 2 week event in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

“It has been a privilege to be part of this big planning process and to assist Mercy Ships from an event aspect. Seeing all the people – more than 10,000 – come to visit the Global Mercy was quiet amazing!” Lena T Alvling says.

Mercy Ships has been assisting vulnerable people in West and Central Africa for more than 30 years. The new vessel is now operating alongside the Africa Mercy, which has been in service since 2007, and will double the organization’s previous aid capacity. This means that each year the goal is to be able to perform more closely 6,000 operations and train just over 2,800 local healthcare workers. In addition, thousands of dental procedures can be performed treatments and parallel aid projects also on land.