Cuna Eases Africa Mercy Communication

As the Security Officer on the Africa Mercy, Tracy Swope is prepared to handle any security issue that might arise. Prior to coming to Togo, the Africa Mercy Captain and Managing Director were concerned about the potential unrest during the upcoming Togolese Election. When it came to ensuring safety of off-ship crew members, Tracy knew that a reliable means of sharing information was required.

“I asked for alternate comms [communications] for our vehicles and off - ship locations. During civil protest, cellular service is unreliable, and I didn't want to take that chance of losing contact with our teams , ” Tracy says.

Her request was acknowledged, and Mercy Ships agreed that there was a need for alternative communications. But the cost to equip all Mercy Ships vehicles with radios was quite high. As the date to sail to Togo quickly approached, it didn't appear that it would be possible to supply each vehicle with the equipment needed for reliable alternative communications.

Fortunately, soon after arrival in Togo, equipment for 14 vehicles and 3 stationary bases was generously donated to Mercy Ships. Cuna, a radio communication supplier in Holland, teamed with Kenwood and Selcom BV (Kenwood importer) to donate the radios. Three of the radios had GPS capability, thus allowing the Africa Mercy leadership to know the location of the vehicles.

Cuna's generosity when partnering with Mercy Ships was timely and much appreciated.

“Cuna coordinated to test the radio system with the Africa Mercy before sending the equipment , to ensure the proper frequency and radios were supplied ,” Tracy says. “They accommodated Mercy Ships in every way.”

The need for the radios was truly tested when the Togolese government increased gas prices rather significantly without warning. In approximately one hour, Lomé taxi drivers and truck drivers created a city-wide strike. Roadblocks were created at locations across the city. Security officers onboard the Africa Mercy went on high-alert to locate and communicate with 29 crew members who were at 6 off-ship sites.

“Those radios made the ease of coordinating so much faster. Within minutes, we were in touch with all off-site crew , instead of making six separate cellular phone calls ,” Tracy says. “Se curity-wise and safety-wise , the radio s assisted the Africa Mercy . ”

Not only could the security team correspond with vehicles via the radios, the vehicle-to-vehicle radio communications kept the off-ship crew aware of new roadblocks and traffic problems as the teams safely made their way back to the Africa Mercy.

Mercy Ships Holland employee, Aad van Noppen, says that Cuna has been a wonderful company to partner with. “Not only have they donated very valuable equipment, but they have donated manpower -- programming and online help for Michel [Mercy Ships engineer] for the installation onboard. ”

Cuna spent countless hours bench-checking the radios, programming them, and coaching Mercy Ships on the proper antenna mount for the vehicles. Their donation of equipment and time has truly been a blessing.