Engineers make a difference

Most of the press about the Africa Mercy deals with the hospital operations, but none of that could take place without the engineers and technicians who keep the ship operations running.
The engine room is one area that most people never see.   One usually imagines a place that is hot, greasy and noisy.  I took a tour of the engine room and saw a lot more than I expected.

The Control room is a less noisy space.  We didn't need hearing protection in this room.  When ships come into ports, they usually require the assistance of tug boats.  Not so with the Africa Mercy.   This former railroad Ferry is equipped with precision bow thrusters and aft adjusters that brings it right into port.  At one time, this ship had to line up railroad tracks.  It carried out that type of precision daily.
Many of the controls are similar to those on the bridge.  Of course, since we're in port, we were not moving, but the engines are warm and the ship is in a position where it can leave within one hour if there was ever an emergency that required us to leave the country quickly.

 The engines are large V-16 engines.  To appreciate the size, see the picture below with 8 cylinders on each side.  Right now they are running on diesel fuel provided by the Congo government.  As a result there is a lot of maintenance due to the impurities in the fuel.







The engine room also is critical in taking care of all the crew as well as the hospital operations.

The water supply comes from the Pointe Noire port, but has to be treated.  So there are multiple steps in the process were the water is purified before use for drinking, cooking, and washing.
In addition waste has to be handled for over 500 people.  There is a sewage treatment operation as well as an incinerator to handle bio-hazard waste.

The incinerator operates at about 1000 degrees Celsius.

After sewage is treated, the water quality is almost drinkable.  This is part of the sewage treatment facility.




Along the way through the engine room compartments, one realizes that each room can be sealed off.  Since this area is below sea level,  means of escape are necessary so one does not get trapped in an emergency.  Some escape routes require some climbing.

Looking up at an escape route.

We ended our tour by climbing from below water level to the top deck 8 where we came outside to tour the oxygen plant.

Oxygen is needed in the hospital, so we have small facility that scrubs the air (removes the nitrogen from the air) and stores the purified gas in tanks for the hospital oxygen requirements.

One of the keys to successful scrubber operation is to have them in air conditions rooms.  This is one of the cool spots on board.  A local hospital was having problems with oxygen production and our engineers told them they had to air condition the room!

This oxygen monitor indicated 95% purity.












So maintaining the engines, rebuilding generators, maintaining water systems, ensuring
sanitation on board, keeping refrigeration systems going, maintaining HVAC and vacuum systems are all part of what it takes to bring Hope and Healing to the World's forgotten poor in this part of the world.
These are generally the unseen operations that we all depend on.  They really do make a difference.


Chuck