Life Extension Programme for Hospital Vessel MV Africa Mercy
BMT's Engineering Solutions enhance safety, performance, and operational life for MV Africa Mercy.
BMT's Engineering Solutions enhance safety, performance, and operational life for MV Africa Mercy.
MV Africa Mercy has spent over a decade bringing critical medical care to communities across Africa. Operated by Mercy Ships, the vessel features five operating theatres, recovery and intensive care wards, and accommodation for around 450 volunteer crew.
To keep this floating hospital operational and mission-ready, Mercy Ships partnered with BMT to deliver a comprehensive life extension programme.
Years of service meant MV Africa Mercy required upgrades to maintain safety, efficiency, and compliance with maritime and environmental regulations. Mercy Ships required assurance of the vessel’s long-term viability, a roadmap for essential improvements, and confidence that the ship could continue life-saving missions well into the 2030s.
BMT brought global expertise in vessel design, engineering, and technical consultancy to the programme.
Lifecycle Assessment: A full review of the ship’s condition, covering hull structure, machinery, accommodation, and environmental compliance.
Detailed Survey: Specialist BMT surveyors inspected the vessel while in dry dock at ASTICAN Shipyard, Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Technical Assurance: The assessment identified key improvements and a structured plan to extend the ship’s operational life safely and reliably.
This approach gave Mercy Ships confidence that their ship could continue to operate effectively while planning future upgrades.
The life extension programme has delivered tangible benefits:
Extended Service Life: Operational and expected to serve until at least 2035.
Operational Confidence: Future missions can be planned knowing the ship meets current safety and technical standards.
Sustained Humanitarian Impact: Continues delivering life-changing medical care to thousands more patients.
“MV Africa Mercy’s life extension programme has been essential to keeping the vessel operational, delivering optimal capability for as long as possible. We are confident that the ongoing work will help facilitate life-changing surgeries for many more people in need. We are pleased to continue to partner with BMT, who provide the technical consultancy we rely on to ensure MV Africa Mercy can continue to carry out this work.” Justin Ray, VP of Operations, Mercy Ships
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