History. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens in Lausanne in Switzerland. The first ocean liner acquired was the Victoria, which was purchased for its scrap value of US $1 million. The nine-deck vessel was transformed into the hospital ship MV Anastasis over a four-year period.

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 shipping service providing essential medical assistance to people around the world.

25 Aug Sierra Leoneans welcome newest Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy, into Port of Freetown. Around 65 volunteers from the UK and Ireland will be volunteering onboard the Global Mercy, which has now docked in freetown, Sierra Leone in response to an invitation from the country's president, Julius Maada Bio.

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

Mercy Ships is an international faith-based charity whose foundation rests on an integrated biblical worldview of service to others and a personal relationship with Jesus.

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.

Crew fees help cover operational expenses onboard so we can maximize the impact of donations by putting 75% directly into programmatic expenses, like the cost of surgery for a patient who needs it.

MERCY is a 1,000 bed hospital ship commissioned in 1986, with a military cadre crew of approximately eight Officers and 53 Enlisted personnel and a civilian mariner cadre crew of approximately 15 personnel while in a Reduced Operating Status (ROS).

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.

We are sponsored by Mercy Health Ministry, which was established by the Catholic Church to oversee the healing ministry and Catholic identity of Mercy Health. The mission started by one woman is now 250,000 strong.