On October 29th, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) officially broke ground for the MSI hospital ship project for Mercy Ships International (hereinafter referred to as “Mercy Ships”), an international charitable organization.
The MSI hospital ship project is another milestone in the deepening partnership between GSI and Mercy Ships. The project was officially signed in April 2024, aiming to build a “mobile medical center” integrating medical, educational and living functions for Africa’s medical resource-poor areas. The two sides held a kick-off meeting in June 2024 to clarify the construction objectives and cooperation mechanism. The commencement of this project marks the entry of the ship into the substantive construction phase.
The hospital ship measures 174.1 meters in overall length, 28.6 meters in breadth, 6.4 meters in structural draught, 12 knots in service speed, 500 passengers under sail and 950 in port. The hospital ship integrates the functions of passenger life, hospital medical treatment and school education, which is a high-specification passenger ship with an international standard hospital.
The hospital section is the key functional area of the ship, which mainly consists of laboratory, general outpatient clinic, ophthalmology outpatient clinic, dental outpatient clinic, CT scanning room, rehabilitation room, operating room, pharmacy, ICU ward, inpatient department, nursing station, training center etc. Other functional cabins include restaurants, cafes, stores, libraries, movie theaters, outdoor swimming pools, etc.
The construction of the hospital ship, funded by the MSC Foundation, will be operated by the MSI organization. The hospital ship is not only a ship, but also a mobile medical center, which will carry the spirit of humanitarianism to areas where medical resources are scarce, bringing hope and health to the local population.
It is understood that the MSI hospital ship is expected to be completed within two years and will be operated by Mercy Ships. It will travel to the regions in Africa with the most urgent medical needs year-round, bringing health and hope to the local people.
In his speech, Zhou Xuhui, Director and General Manager of GSI, stated that since its establishment in 1978, Mercy Ships has taken the ocean as a bridge for nearly 50 years, delivering top-tier medical care to the most needy regions free of charge and embodying the spirit of “doctors’ benevolence and boundless love” through actions. Jim Paterson, the project’s New Building Manager, and his wife have upheld charitable commitments for nearly 40 years, serving as vivid examples of Mercy Ships’ spirit.”
“Since joining hands with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company in 2018, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) and MSC have achieved repeated breakthroughs in the high-end ship sector. MSC’s generous donation of 50% of the construction funds for this project demonstrates the responsibility of a “great enterprise to warm the world”.