Mercy Ships: volunteer on board a hospital ship
Mercy Ships is an international charity that operates hospital ships and welcomes both medical and non-medical volunteers. Alongside surgeons and nurses, it also needs cooks, teachers, electricians, engineers, mechanics, technicians, administrators, maritime crew, hospitality staff, and many other skilled volunteers.
General information
Mercy Ships has been operating since 1978 and works in partnership with African nations to provide free surgeries and other healthcare services, while also supporting training for local healthcare professionals. Today, the organisation serves with two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy.
What volunteers help with
Mercy Ships relies on a wide range of people to keep life and work on board running smoothly. Opportunities can include medical roles, nursing, technical and engineering work, maritime positions, hospitality, education, administration, logistics, communications, and many other support roles.
Volunteers around the world
According to Mercy Ships, more than 2,500 volunteers from over 60 nations serve each year. Because roles and staffing needs change over time, always check the official volunteer site for the latest openings and requirements.
Costs and practical notes
Important: On Mercy Ships’ official volunteer pages, volunteers are usually responsible for costs related to service such as medical visits before departure, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, some flights, and personal expenses.
Mercy Ships says it covers accommodation, meals, utilities, essential onboard services, and health and travel insurance for active volunteers during their service.
Scam warning: Mercy Ships also states that it does not charge any fee as part of the interview or recruitment process. Apply only through the official Mercy Ships pages.
Current ship schedule
On the official volunteer schedule, the Global Mercy is listed in Sierra Leone for field service from August 2025 to June 2026, followed by annual maintenance in Spain and then a field service in Ghana from September 2026. Ship schedules can change, so always confirm the latest details on the official schedule page before making plans.
How to apply
Mercy Ships recommends applying as early as possible. On its official volunteer pages, it says applications should ideally be submitted 6 to 8 months in advance, and sometimes earlier for certain roles or family placements.
Apply via the official Mercy Ships page
You can also browse current roles here: View volunteer opportunities
Contact details 🔍📧
Please note: This volunteer project listing may be outdated. Information regarding availability, dates, roles, costs, schedules, and requirements may change. Please confirm all current conditions directly on the official Mercy Ships website before making any travel plans.
Official volunteer site: volunteer.mercyships.org
How to apply: Official application steps
Current ship schedules: View ship schedules
Recruitment scam notice: Read the official warning
Please use the official pages above to contact Mercy Ships directly. Do not send booking requests via Voluntouring.org comments.
Mercy Ships regularly updates volunteer information, ship schedules, and open roles on its official platform, so it is worth checking the links above before making plans.
Sharon Somers-Hill Sharonsh@mac DOT com – ph 949 553 8553
Retired RN and always wanted to work on Mercy ships – now wonders re volunteering . Licensed in 3 countries during career.