Irishman joins crew of hospital ship

A CORKMAN has been appointed the chief engineer of the world’s largest charitable hospital ship.

Ciarán Holden from Ballincollig will take up his new post on board the global hospital ship charity, Mercy Ships’ newest vessel, the Africa Mercy, later this month.

It will be launched from Newcastle early next year and will sail the world, providing free medical care, relief aid, community development and long-term sustainable development to some of the poorest people in the world.

Its maiden voyage will be to war-torn Liberia in West African.

Ciarán is currently serving at the Mercy Ships International Operations Center as marine staffing manager.

He will travel with his wife, Lillian, and their two daughters, Joy aged three, and six-month-old Lucy to Newcastle later this month.

A qualified marine engineer, Ciarán has been giving up his time to serve as a volunteer for Mercy Ships since 1998.

He has worked with the charity in a variety of positions both onboard the Anastasis as third engineer and on the Caribbean Mercy as chief engineer and engineering superintendent.

Speaking from Texas last night, Ciarán said he is really looking forward to transferring on to the charity’s newest vessel.

“After many years of hard work and perseverance with hundreds of other volunteers, my family and I are privileged to be able to participate in the launch and sail of this unique ship to Africa,” he said.

“My role as chief engineer is to maintain and support the ship in order that Mercy Ships medical staff will have an operational hospital to help the African people.

“We are very excited about this historical moment in Mercy Ships.”

The Africa Mercy, a former Danish rail ferry, is in the final stages of a £35million re-fit in Newcastle.

Once complete, it will be heading to West Africa, where it will provide essential medical and humanitarian services to the millions of Africans who have no access to healthcare services, clean water or stable housing.

The ship will be staffed entirely by an international crew of more than 400 dedicated volunteers.

Volunteers will range from seamen, engineers, plumbers and deckhands to surgeons, dentists and nurses.

Volunteer crew pay fees for the time they serve onboard, thereby allowing all funds received by the charity to go directly to those in desperate need, in addition to all the medical services on board the ships, which are free of charge.