Meanwhile, what will be the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world is nearing the completion of lengthy conversion works at the A&P Shipyard in Newcastle UK and is in urgent need of equipment to fulfil lifeboat and lifesaving requirements before it can sail for Ghana next spring.

The Africa Mercy requires more than £54,000 of lifesaving materials and supplies for its maiden voyage.

The 151.5m LOA former Danish rail ferry has been undergoing £35 million conversion works since it was donated to Mercy Ships by Ann Gloag OBE in 1999. Conversion works on the former Droning Ingrid are due for completion in November, when the vessel will move to another site on the Tyne for the installation of medical equipment.

Some £10m is still needed to complete the transformation and install the essential supplies and hospital equipment needed.

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland launched a partnership with Mercy Ships this summer which aims to equip a £750,000 ophthalmic operating theatre and provide some of the 400 volunteers who will comprise its crew.

Mercy Ships is now seeking lifeboats and lifesaving equipment, each piece of which must be new or still possessing two years of SOLAS certification before expiry.

Africa Mercy will require ten life rafts costing £2,950 each and 634 compact lifejackets which will cost another £15,560. Lifebuoys, hand flares, smoke floats and parachute rockets are also required.

Russell Holmes, procurement coordinator for the Africa Mercy said, 'It is vitally important that we can secure all the required lifesaving equipment by next spring, otherwise the ship cannot sail for Ghana where it will be providing essential medical and humanitarian services to millions.

'We are asking members of the public, sailing organisations and local companies to contribute any finance or goods they may be able to provide that are of adequate safety standards.'

Russell Holmes can be contacted at The Africa Mercy on+44 (0)191 428 6434 or via email at russell. holmes@ mercyships. org. Donations to the Africa Mercy Appeal can be made at www. mercyships.<$>org. uk . Donations to the Mercy Ships Hurricane Katrina Relief effort can be made at www.<$>mercyships. org . Since its inception in 1978, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries and impacted more than 2.5 million lives through its work on board the ships and through its land based projects.

MJ Information No: 21019