About Us
Our Fleet
The Africa Mercy
The 499-foot 16, 572 GRT Africa Mercy is the world’s largest charity hospital ship. The purpose-built hospital includes six state of the art operating rooms, intensive care and ward bed space for up to 78 patients. Originally built in Denmark in 1980, the newest Mercy Ship has a berth capacity for 484. Volunteer crew from more than 30 nations serve onboard.
Click here for the current itinerary for the Africa Mercy.
Download a fact sheet on the Africa Mercy.
Our Fleet History
The Anastasis
The flagship of the Mercy Ships fleet for nearly three decades, the Anastasis retired in June 2007. Formerly the Victoria, the 1953-built Italian cruise liner became a Mercy Ship in 1978. The 159-meter vessel housed three fully-equipped operating rooms, a 40-bed hospital ward, a dental clinic, a laboratory, an X-ray unit and three cargo holds. A volunteer crew of 350-400 from more than 30 nations served onboard. Over her 29 years of service, the Anastasis contributed more than half of Mercy Ships total output in terms of number of services, value and beneficiaries. In its long history of service, an estimated 25,000 volunteer crew members served on the Anastasis. Over 250 couples met as crew, and several weddings were held onboard, including one at sea.
Click here to view the Port History for the Anastasis.
The Caribbean Mercy
Formerly a Norwegian ferry (Polarys), the Caribbean Mercy was acquired by Mercy Ships in 1994. In her 12-year history, the Caribbean Mercy contributed more than 20% of Mercy Ships total output in terms of number of services, value and beneficiaries, serving primarily in Central America and the Caribbean basin. While in port, she housed an average crew of 120 volunteers from more than 20 nations. The Caribbean Mercy offered an eye surgery unit, cargo capacity conference and seminar facilities used for a variety of programmes. Her fuel and water tanks provided a cruising range of 12 days, or 3600 miles. During her first 42 years, the ship only travelled within Norway. During her 12 years of service as a Mercy Ship, she visited 18 countries. In 2006, she was sold to a family foundation to be renovated.
Click here to view the Port History for the Caribbean Mercy.
Good Samaritan/The Island Mercy
The former Newfoundland coastal ferry Petite Forte was donated to Mercy Ships in 1983. She sailed for 11 years as the Good Samaritan serving the Caribbean, Central and South America, until 1994 when she was renamed the Island Mercy and redeployed to the South Pacific where she served until 2001. The vessel went through extensive renovations including the building of operating theatres onboard. The ship was sold in 2001 to a Philippine interest. As the Good Samaritan, she carried cargo and personnel to the Pan-American games for the U.S. Olympic committee in 1991, and became the first ship to legally sail from the United States and Cuba in 30 years. To her crew she was affectionately known as the “Little Giant”.
Click here to view the Port History for the Good Samaritan/Island Mercy.
