The series is also being shown on Discovery Channel Australia and New Zealand.
Gary Regazzoli, CEO Mercy Ships Australia, says the news is exciting as it will be the first time the work of volunteers serving with the charity will be seen on Australian television. "There are many thousands of Mercy Ships supporters around Australia who have not seen more than pictures of the Africa Mercy and crew at work in the poorest nations of West Africa. There are also hundreds of Australians who have served as volunteers on one of the ships operated by Mercy Ships over the years. The hour-long episode on the hospital ship will bring back many memories for them," he says.
Mighty Ships is seen on 7mate on Saturdays at 6.30 pm. Seven has not yet scheduled a date for the Africa Mercy program. Three series have been produced, and it is not known in what sequence the episodes will be shown. Mr Regazzoli suggests viewers keep an eye on station program guides. "We will also provide further information on our website as well as on the linked Facebook when a screening date is scheduled."
Discovery Channel Australia and New Zealand has advised that the Africa Mercy episode in the Mighty Ships series is scheduled for Friday, October 15, at 10 pm.
Mighty Ships, the series produced for Discovery Channel Canada has been acquired by the Seven Network in Australia. The Emmy-award winning series is a behind the scenes look at some of the sea's most impressive vessels, from pirate-hunting naval frigates and high-tech ocean dredgers to luxury cruise ships and lethal nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Among such ships is the Africa Mercy, which docks in the world's poorest nations of West Africa as volunteers provide a range of free medical and community development services. The ship is equipped with six operating theatres, a 78-bed hospital, state-of-the-art equipment and accommodation for 450 volunteer crew members from around the world.
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978 providing free health care and community development services to the forgotten poor. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves. The result is a way out of poverty.
The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the world's largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy, with a crew of more than 450 volunteer, provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.
Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean. Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.
On the web: www.mercyships.org.au