A United States Navy hospital ship has arrived in south-central Vietnam to commence a partnership program running from May 17 to June 2.

The USNS Mercy docked at Nha Trang Port, located in the namesake city in Khanh Hoa Province, on Thursday afternoon to begin the Pacific Partnership Program 2018 (PP18).

According to Duong Nam Khanh, director of the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, local authorities will coordinate with the U.S. and Japan to organize the 15-day event, which is aimed at boosting cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The ties between Vietnam and the U.S. as well as other member nations in the program are also expected to be enhanced by the program, said Khanh.

The US Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy is seen in Khanh Hoa Province on May 17, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Apart from the U.S. and Japan, PP18 includes the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Sri Lanka, Chile, and Peru. 

During the event, officers and crewmembers of the U.S. Navy ship and their Vietnamese partners will work with hospitals in Nha Trang to offer health check-ups and first-aid to locals along with repairing and upgrading medical facilities in nearby localities. 

The Pacific Partnership program is an annual deployment of United States Navy forces in cooperation with regional governments and military forces, along with humanitarian and non-government organizations.

Captain Peter Roberts, commanding officer of the USNS Mercy. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The deployment was initiated following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami as a way to improve the interoperability of the region's military forces, governments, and humanitarian organizations during relief operations.

During Pacific Partnership 2018, mission personnel from the U.S. are conducting visits to nations throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including Vietnam, to enhance strategic partnerships and increase cooperation and readiness for manmade and natural disasters.

Officials in Khanh Hoa Province take a photo with naval officers aboard the USNS Mercy. Photo: Tuoi Tre

This mission demonstrates U.S. support for a strong, prosperous, and, independent Vietnam and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink.

Commissioned in 1986, the USNS Mercy is called the “super hospital” of the US Navy.

The 27 meter long, 32 meter wide ship is equipped with modern medical equipment to conduct complicated surgeries on board. 

Here is a closer look at the hospital ship USNS Mercy:

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