TAH-19 USNS Hospital Ship Mercy

• Commissioning and Service: USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) was launched in 1985 and commissioned into service in 1986, serving as one of two hospital ships operated by the Military Sealift Command. • Converted Oil Tanker: The ship was originally built as an oil tanker named SS Worth, and was later converted into a hospital ship by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California. • Massive Medical Capacity: USNS Mercy is equipped with 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, a 1,000-bed hospital facility, laboratories, a pharmacy, radiological services, and even dental clinics. • Humanitarian Missions: Mercy is well-known for its humanitarian missions, notably Pacific Partnership missions, providing medical care, disaster relief, and training throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia. • Gulf War Service: During Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991, USNS Mercy provided medical support for coalition forces in the Persian Gulf. • COVID-19 Response: In March 2020, USNS Mercy was deployed to Los Angeles, California, to provide medical assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, treating non-COVID patients to free up local hospitals. • Symbol of Hope: The ship's name and mission are inspired by the concept of “mercy,” serving as a powerful symbol of hope and care during crises and disasters. • Civilian and Military Crew: The ship is operated by a hybrid crew of civilian mariners from the Military Sealift Command and a medical staff provided by the Navy’s Medical Service Corps. • Floating City: USNS Mercy is so large that it is often referred to as a “floating city,” capable of supporting its crew and patients with its own power, water, and food supplies for extended periods. • Distinctive Livery: The ship is easily identified by its white hull and superstructure emblazoned with large red crosses, signifying its protected status under the Geneva Conventions as a non-combatant hospital ship.