Secure Mooring Lines for Mercy Ships Hospital Ship

Phillystran and Lankhorst Ropes donate Euroflex mooring lines 

Mooring lines donated by high performance ropes maker Phillystran, and leading maritime ropes supplier Lankhorst Ropes, and have been successfully installed on the Africa Mercy, the largest charity-run hospital ship in the world, operated by Mercy Ships. The Euroflex mooring lines will provide the secure moorings needed to ensure surgical operations can be conducted safely.

Mercy Ships is an international non-governmental, faith-based organization providing healthcare services to the world’s poorest countries. The Africa Mercy hospital ship is dedicated to serving the people of sub-Saharan Africa. The Euroflex mooring lines were installed during the hospital ship’s annual maintenance in Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands. In total four mooring lines have been supplied by Lankhorst and Phillystran.

“The reels of Euroflex rope were delivered to our warehouse facility in Houston and then destined for West Africa. Installation of the mooring lines was straightforward. We are grateful to Phillystran and Lankhorst Ropes for generously donating them,” said Ciaran Holden, Marine Operations Technical Director for Mercy Ships. “The stability of the vessel for surgical procedures and the comfort of our patients and crew is crucial for us to bring safe and successful medical care to people from nations including Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, Benin and Madagascar.” 

“We are pleased to support the valuable work of Mercy Ships as part of one of Phillystran’s initiatives to contribute to the creation of a better world. During these difficult times, their services are needed more than ever,” said Mark Pieter Frölich, Commercial Director for Phillystran and Lankhorst Ropes USA. “Euroflex ropes offer excellent handling properties, including high strength, high energy absorption and excellent abrasion resistance, to produce one of the best performing mooring ropes available.”

The Africa Mercy contains five operating rooms, a four-bed recovery area, intensive care for up to five patients, and 80 ward beds. It carries about 400 volunteer crew members from up to 50 nations. Each year, over 2,000 free, life-changing surgeries are performed in the operating theatres onboard. Mooring the Africa Mercy safely and securely in a sub-Saharan African port is no small feat compared to mooring a regular vessel. 

Mercy Ships – serving the world’s forgotten poor

Mercy Ships serves countries that lie on the lower third of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Human Development Index, where access to safe, affordable, and timely surgery is extremely limited. As a result, countless people suffer and die from conditions that can easily be cured. In partnership with developing countries striving to make healthcare accessible for all, Mercy Ships offers programmes that bring holistic support. Since 1978, Mercy Ships has delivered services to more than 2.7 million direct beneficiaries.

For more information on Lankhorst Ropes, visit www.lankhorstropes.com.

For more information on Mercy Ships, visit www.mercyship.org.