CUSTOM-BUILT FOR HEALTHCARE MISSIONS

The vessel will double the capacity available to the non-governmental charitable organisation Mercy Ships in providing free healthcare to some of the poorest countries and regions of the world. Realisation of the scheme has been a lengthy process, and has involved prominent European, American and Asian contractors, with CSIC’s Tianjin Xingang yard undertaking the build. The order was awarded in 2013, and keel-laying took place in December 2015. The vessel was handed overl after sea trials some four months ago.

Employing an extensively customised ro-ro ferry design platform, the 37,900gt Global Mercy incorporates diesel-electric propulsion and a state-of-the-art medical installation, featuring a surgical suite, hospital wards, and substantial outpatient capacity. Volunteer medical and technical professionals staff the charity’s new ship, which is scheduled to begin her initial mission next spring in Senegal, berthed at Dakar.

Stena RoRo has been responsible for managing the entire project, including construction oversight in China. Paris-based BRS Salles acted as broker, and Finnish/Chinese consultancy Deltamarin was responsible for the detail design.

Two of the ship’s 12 decks, in what would have otherwise been the garage spaces of a ro-pax ferry, are arranged with six operating theatres, wards containing beds for nearly 200 patients, outpatient diagnosis and treatment spaces, ophthalmology and dental clinics, and a laboratory. As Mercy Ships also contributes to the local medical care infrastructure in areas where its vessels operate, the specification for the newbuild included dedicated teaching and training facilities.

Four six-cylinder models of the Wartsila 32-series diesel, the well-proven, ubiquitous 320mm-bore medium-speed engine, power the main gensets. Electrical energy is delivered to the motors incorporated by the two Azipod azimuth propulsion thrusters, each rated for 2.85MW.

The manoeuvrability rendered by the 360-degree rotable propulsors will assist the vessel in navigating narrow passages and docking in shallow harbours, as characterise many places around the African continent. Furthermore, self-reliance in accessing such areas, where tug availability is limited or non-existent, is crucial to the ability to deliver healthcare to the poorest of the poor.

The ship’s functioning as a hospital, not least as regards the conditions required for surgical procedures, has necessitated particular attention to hull design, interior layout, ventilation and minimisation of noise and vibration. The reduction in noise levels owes much to the adoption of electrical propulsion, Azipod technology, and double resilient mounting of the Wartsila engines to a level complying with DNV’s stipulations for the VIBR class notation. The onboard environment so created also improves habitability and working circumstances for crew and medical personnel.

Besides the pair of Azipods, delivered to the yard fully-assembled, ABB’s scope of supply embraced the generators, switchboards, transformers and drives, and bridge controls for propulsion, plus the proprietary Ability remore control diagnostic system. Once in full operation, Global Mercy will receive round-the-clock backup from ABB’s monitoring hubs ashore.

Wartsila has also signed a comprehensive, five-year maintenance agreement with Mercy Ships, covering parts, field service, asset monitoring, and full technical support intended to keep the vessel running at all times.

The organisation’s hospital ships can be stationary in port for up to 10 months. As barnacle colonisation of the hull can be a problem over extended periods when a vessel is static, an antifouling containing Selektope has been applied to inhibit such growth. Selektope is an active, non-metallic agent ingredient added to marine coatings in nanomolar concentrations to protect the hull.

Headquartered in Lindale, Texas, Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 by Donald and Deyon Stephens, and currently runs the 152m Africa Mercy, originally built in Denmark as a rail ferry 41 years ago, and converted into a hospital ship in 2007.

TECHNICAL PARTICULARS

Hospital ship Global Mercy