Chennai, Mar 1, 2025: In a significant move to bolster the welfare of the very large worldwide seafaring community, Synergy Marine Group, recognized as one of the largest employers of Indian seafarers, has announced an expanded collaboration with Mercy Ships. Building on its initial support through lending free office space at its European hub in Ørestad, Copenhagen, Synergy Marine Group will now progressively extend its assistance to include maritime technical expertise, medical teleconsultations, targeted awareness campaigns, and dedicated fundraising efforts.
Operating from Synergy Denmark’s office, Mercy Ships Denmark can work more efficiently, enhancing coordination in recruiting volunteers and supporting life-saving medical missions aboard its hospital ships Africa Mercy and Global Mercy. This strengthened partnership further underscores the joint commitment of both organisations to improve the lives of vulnerable communities and ensure sustainable access to critical healthcare services.
Mercy Ships has been a lifeline for underserved communities for over four decades, providing free surgeries and medical training across Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation demonstrated remarkable resilience by swiftly pivoting to focus on medical training, capacity building, and vaccine support — ensuring that frontline healthcare professionals had the necessary resources to continue delivering critical care.
Reflecting on the significance of increasing support from Synergy Marine Group, founder and Chairman Captain Rajesh Unni said: "Our help will extend beyond just office space — we will actively drive awareness and fundraising initiatives to support the life-saving work of Mercy Ships. Additionally, the panel of doctors that supports Synergy seafarers will provide follow-up teleconsultations for Mercy Ships’ medical missions, ensuring continued care for patients in need. The Mercy Ships commitment to medical resilience during COVID-19 was remarkable, and we are honoured to stand alongside them in extending critical healthcare to those in need. The pandemic also exposed stark humanitarian injustices — while the world relied on shipping for essential goods, seafarers were denied medical access, the right to return home, and, in some very disturbing cases, even a dignified burial. As a seafarer myself, I am unable to accept this, even four years later. We must not let it happen again. By upscaling our support for Mercy Ships, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that healthcare and humanitarian aid reach those who need it most, including the very people who keep global trade moving."
Charlotte Nørholm Dyhr, Secretary General, said: "We are deeply grateful for our increasing collaboration with Synergy Marine Group, which makes daily operations and work easier and more enjoyable for both volunteers and employees. This is a tremendous benefit for us, and we feel its impact every day. It supports our mission of recruiting volunteers and providing free surgeries to thousands of people each year aboard our two hospital ships, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy."
Since its founding in 1978, Mercy Ships has pPerformed over 117,000 life-saving procedures, including tumour removals, reconstructive surgeries, and cleft lip repairs; trained more than 54,300 local medical professionals in surgery, nursing, and biomedical sciences; and provided basic healthcare education to nearly 272,000 people, empowering communities with essential health knowledge.
With hospital ships staffed by 1,000 volunteer seafarers and medical professionals from 60 countries, Mercy Ships continues to make a difference in global healthcare.
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