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Ships of Hope: changing lives together

Mercy Ships runs the two largest charity hospital ships in the world, bringing free, life-changing surgeries to people across sub-Saharan Africa.

Nine out of ten people in sub-Saharan Africa can’t access safe surgery. Mercy Ships’ state-of-the-art floating hospitals sail directly to ports across Africa, bringing expert care to the people who need help most.

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978. On board their ships, the charity provides medical care for patients, and training for healthcare professionals. Onshore, volunteers also rebuild local health clinics. They offer education for patients and their communities on ways to improve their health, including hygiene, nutrition and much more.

The charity aims to make a lasting impact in host nations – long after their ships depart.

Members of the deck team on board the Global Mercy.

Keeping the hospital ships afloat

Mercy Ships is looking for compassionate volunteers from the maritime community to support their mission and legacy.

The hospital ships are crewed by a community of volunteers from all walks of life, including captains, seafarers, surgeons, nurses, cooks and cleaners, and their families, from more than 60 nations. Most crew members freely give their time on board, so more funds can go directly to giving patients expert medical care.

Mercy Ships forms lasting partnerships with leaders in the maritime industry, who generously give financial support, machinery and help maintain the equipment on board their vessels.

Maritime companies such as Seapeak and Teekay also sponsor their employees to serve on board the charity’s two hospital ships, currently in operation in Sierra Leone and Madagascar.

Make a lasting difference with a PartnerShip

Corporate partners like Spinnaker, SSY and Seaworks are instrumental in bringing hope and healing to people who urgently need safe surgery.

Learn how our corporate partners like SSY, Lloyds Registry and Seapeak are making a difference

If you believe everyone should have the right to free, safe surgery, then please become a partner with Mercy Ships. Your support can bring vital healthcare to people in unjust poverty.

A PartnerShip can bring lasting benefits to companies and organisations and their employees:

  • Mercy Ships will create a bespoke PartnerShips package to suit your company’s needs, based on our shared values. These tailor-made packages will engage your team and promote your impact to key audiences, including customers.
  • You will gain a model to support your corporate social responsibility goals.
  • You can choose the kind of support you offer, from donations to services-in-kind.
  • Your employees can have the opportunity to volunteer on Mercy Ships. In this unique experience, professionals will get a chance to develop their careers, join an international crew of mariners, and bring lasting hope to patients and their families.

Join us!

To find out more about how you can join this vibrant community, and support a legacy of change in sub-Saharan Africa, email Miranda at Mercy Ships.

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