YWAM Medical Ships have acquired a new vessel, the 65 metre supply ship MV l’Astrolabe, for their work in Papua New Guinea.
To be renamed the MV YWAM Liberty, the ship will be the fourth to be deployed by the organisation into the country. There are currently two ships – the MV Pacific Link and the MV YWAM PNG – deployed in PNG with a third, the MV RUACH, due to join them later this year.
Ken Mulligan, managing director of YWAM Medical Ships PNG, said in a statement that the acquisition of the MV YWAM Liberty represents hope for tens of thousands of people.
“The healthcare challenges in PNG are very unique because of the remoteness,” he said. “In collaboration with PNG’s National Department of Health and provincial health authorities, we’ve reached hundreds of remote villages with healthcare and training through both the MV YWAM PNG and the MV Pacific Link.”
Since 2010, YWAM Medical Ships have delivered 648,062 healthcare services and training to 145,567 people.
Sir Rabbie Namaliu, a patron of the organisation, said he was delighted to see its work expand in PNG.
“Over 84 per cent of our population live in rural areas – our medical ships are helping to combat isolation by accessing remote villages with healthcare and training,” he said, noting that the large cargo capacity and helideck on the new vessel would enable access to even more remote locations.
The ship is due to arrive in Townsville later this week and will then be repurposed over the coming months for its maiden voyage to PNG.
