Gangways Project
🇨🇦 Canadian Program
A Safe Welcome Aboard
For patients arriving at the Africa Mercy, the gangway is more than a walkway—it is an important step toward healing. Families often travel long distances to reach the ship, and the moment they cross the gangway marks a further step in their journey to restored health. The volunteer crew also depend on this access point every day, whether they are returning from shore or welcoming new arrivals.
To strengthen this welcome, Mercy Ships International is replacing the main gangway entrance platform. The new design will make boarding safer and faster, directly enabling more efficient surgeries and patient care, while reducing risks for the volunteer crew who manage it. Alongside it, a lightweight emergency gangway will provide a second access point, especially in ports where the larger emergency gangway cannot be used. In times of need, this additional route could make all the difference for patients and crew alike.
If the project were delayed, the ship could continue to serve—but with less efficiency and greater strain on the crew. Patients might wait longer to board, and the crew would spend more time managing equipment instead of focusing on care. By acting now, Mercy Ships ensures that every arrival feels safe, smooth, and welcoming.
Building for the Mission
The hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, spends extended periods docked in port, serving as a hospital for thousands of patients each year. During this time, gangways are not just equipment—they are lifelines. They enable patients to access vital care, empower volunteer crews to fulfill their mission, and allow emergency services to respond swiftly. Upgrading these gangways reinforces our collective effort to save lives and serve with dignity, inspiring pride in our shared commitment.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Mercy Ships is able to invest in new gangways that ensure the Africa Mercy continues to operate at the highest standard. These gangways are more than equipment—they are the safe, simple, and effective bridges that connect patients to healing and empower volunteer crew to serve with confidence.
Every gift makes a difference. Because of donor support, patients arriving for surgery can step aboard with dignity and assurance, and volunteer crew can carry out their mission knowing that access to the ship is secure. Together, donors and Mercy Ships are opening the door to thousands of life‑changing surgeries each year, transforming lives and restoring hope across Africa.
Without these upgrades, the mission would still go forward, but with more challenges. The crew would need to work harder to maintain older systems, and patients might experience delays. New gangways remove those obstacles, allowing the focus to remain where it belongs—on healing.
Impact Beyond the Gangway
The Africa Mercy continues to open its doors to hope. Safe access means more than logistics—it enables over 2,500 surgeries each year, each one a story of transformation. Children walk, mothers find relief, fathers regain strength to support their families.
Made possible by donor contributions, every improvement on the ship is a step toward healing and dignity. Patients find care, families are restored, and communities grow stronger.
Donor partnership empowers Mercy Ships to carry this mission forward, ensuring that hope remains within reach across Africa.
For the volunteer crew, the gangways are a daily reminder of why they serve. Each time they welcome patients aboard, they know that safe access is the beginning of healing. By strengthening the very first step onto the ship, Mercy Ships builds trust with the communities it serves, ensuring that hope and dignity remain within reach. Supporting this project helps us preserve that hope for every patient and community we serve.
If the gangways were not replaced, the ship would still carry out its mission, but with more effort and less ease. Patients might feel more certainty at the very moment they may feel the need for reassurance. By completing this project, Mercy Ships ensures that every step onto the Africa Mercy is a step into safety, dignity, and hope.
“I love that Mercy Ships brings people from all over the world trained in various places and careers to use their knowledge and abilities to make miracles happen every single day.”
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