Don Stephens founded Mercy Ships in 1978 with the purchase of the Anastasis, where he and his family lived for ten years. During his time as President, Don directed and led thousands of professional volunteers from over 60 nations as well as employees in offices in 16 countries.

Mercy Ships began our mission to provide hope and healing to those in need in 1978. Each year we send hospital ships filled with volunteer medical professionals who selflessly provide life-changing surgeries to children and adults who otherwise would go without.

Sierra Leone For 2023 and 2024, Mercy Ships will be serving in Sierra Leone (August 2023 to June 2024) and Madagascar (February to December 2024).

Mercy Ships is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. Mercy Ships has built a broad base of financial support, beginning with donations from the public and from crew members. Medical companies donate pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies to Mercy Ships.

This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community.

In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Mercy and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons, though defensive weapons are available.

New Mercies Mercy Ships A podcast by Mercy Ships where we'll take you behind the scenes and onboard our incredible hospital ships that are changing lives all over the world.

Mercy Ships provides paid jobs to day crew. Day crew opportunities become available 8 months for each ship per year, when the ship docks for medical support in an African country. Currently, Mercy Ships does not provide placement or internship roles.

the Global Mercy DAKAR, SENEGAL, FEBRUARY 15, 2023 – The newest Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy arrived in Dakar, Senegal on February 14, 2023. While the ship hosted surgical training in Senegal in 2022, this year marks the first time that specialized surgeries will take place on this newly built hospital ship.

The conversions from oil tankers cost $208 million per ship and took 35 months to complete. The Mercy-class hospital ships are the third largest ships in the US Navy Fleet by length, surpassed only by the nuclear-powered Nimitz- and Gerald R. Ford-class supercarriers.

the Global Mercy President Julius Maada Bio, Freetown has welcomed a Mercy Ships' hospital ship, marking the sixth instance of the collaboration between Mercy Ships and the government of Sierra Leone. This time it is the Global Mercy the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, which has docked at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

USNS Mercy