Wärtsilä renews Mercy Ships service agreements

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed new Lifecycle Agreements with Mercy Ships International, extending its support for the organisation’s hospital vessels that provide free medical care and training across underserved communities in Africa

The agreements cover a five-year renewal of the existing service agreement for Global Mercy, the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, as well as a three-year service agreement for Africa Mercy II, Mercy Ships’ latest newbuild vessel. Both ships are equipped with Wärtsilä engines.

The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q3 2026.

For Mercy Ships, vessel reliability is critical to its ability to deliver medical services. The organisation operates hospital ships that provide free surgeries, medical care and healthcare training in regions where access to healthcare is limited. Keeping the vessels operational and reducing unplanned downtime is therefore essential to maintaining continuity of these services.

"Our ability to provide medical care depends on the availability and reliability of our vessels. Wärtsilä's support helps us plan maintenance more effectively and reduce the risk of unexpected disruptions, allowing us to focus on our mission. Based on the positive results of our existing agreement for Global Mercy, we are pleased to continue this collaboration and extend similar support to Africa Mercy II,” commented Ciarán Holden, director of technical operations - Mercy Ships International.

Wärtsilä brings predictive maintenance to Mercy Ships

The Lifecycle Agreements combine several services designed to support the long-term operational performance of the vessels. The scope includes spare parts, field services, crew training and Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight digital predictive maintenance service.

Expert Insight combines advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and Wärtsilä’s technical expertise to identify potential equipment issues before they develop into operational disruptions. By providing earlier insight into possible maintenance requirements, the service supports vessel availability and enables more predictable maintenance planning.

"Mercy Ships performs extraordinary work in delivering healthcare where it is needed most. These agreements are designed to provide the operational reliability, maintenance predictability and technical support required to keep their vessels available for service,” explained Henrik Wilhelms, director, Agreement Sales - Wärtsilä Marine.

“We are proud to support an organisation whose mission has such a meaningful impact on communities around the world."

The Global Mercy operates as both a floating hospital and medical training centre. The vessel has six operating rooms alongside extensive training facilities and is powered by four Wärtsilä 32 engines, each delivering 3,360 kW of power for propulsion and critical onboard hospital operations.

Wärtsilä’s continued service support is intended to help maintain the vessel’s operational readiness as it carries out Mercy Ships’ medical mission.

Meanwhile, Africa Mercy II is currently under construction and is scheduled for delivery in 2028. The new vessel will further expand Mercy Ships’ capacity to provide medical services and strengthen healthcare systems in underserved communities across Africa.

Through the renewed and extended Lifecycle Agreements, Wärtsilä will provide ongoing technical and maintenance support for both vessels, helping Mercy Ships maximise vessel availability and maintain the reliability required for its healthcare operations.