Scottish maritime technology company Tymor Marine has completed a lightweight survey and inclining test aboard the Global Mercy using Tymor’s own digital survey technologies, building on a decade-long partnership with global humanitarian charity Mercy Ships.

With 7,000 square metres of medical facilities, six operating theatres and 200 hospital beds, the Global Mercy is the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship. The work took place during the vessel’s annual maintenance period at the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, ahead of its next healthcare service in Ghana.

The Global Mercy provides free surgery and healthcare services to people with limited access to safe medical care, while also supporting training and capacity building in the countries it serves. Mercy Ships also operates the Africa Mercyhospital ship, currently on deployment in Madagascar.

An inclining test establishes a vessel’s lightship weight and centre of gravity. The resulting stability information, once approved by flag and class, defines the loading and operating limits the vessel works within for the years that follow. The survey was carried out on board by Tymor Managing Director Kevin Moran and Principal Naval Architect Niall MacLennan.

Tymor Marine Managing Director Kevin Moran said:

“An inclining experiment takes weeks to plan and a long day to run, and what usually survives it is a report with a number in it.

“On Global Mercy the readings behind that number sit in DeadW8 with the lightship figure, and every subsequent change is recorded against them. That is a continuous record through the five-year statutory period, and it means the next survey starts from what is already known instead of being rebuilt from scratch.”

Two of Tymor’s technologies were used on board. DRFT MRKS uses video capture and analysis to record the draft readings that determine the vessel’s weight, or displacement. DeadW8 data can be updated at any point in the five years between surveys, keeping the spaces where weight varies regularly up to date and providing the loading instrument with a more accurate overall figure of deadweight.Shelley Pigott, Executive Director of Mercy Ships UK, said:

“We’re so thankful to Tymor Marine for their ongoing partnership with Mercy Ships and for blessing us with this recent lightweight survey and inclining test.

“With the stability information it produced approved by flag and class, we can confidently embark on our next healthcare service, with the survey process recorded and stored digitally for the years ahead.”

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has focused on partnering with African nations for more than three decades. Each year, volunteer professionals from around the world serve on board its hospital ships, including surgeons, nurses, seafarers, engineers and technical specialists.

Moran added:

“Most of Tymor’s work takes place aboard commercial ships and offshore assets, so stepping aboard the Global Mercy is a reminder that shipping can serve very different purposes. Knowing that our work will continue supporting the vessel as it delivers life-changing care is extremely rewarding.”