1978 - 2007
This is where our story began. The flagship of our fleet for almost three decades, the Italian cruiser built in 1953, was originally named Victoria. In 1978, it was inherited as the first Ship of Hope, and the 159-metre vessel was converted into a mobile hospital, housing three state-of-the-art operating theatres, a 40-bed hospital ward, a dental clinic, a laboratory, an X-ray unit, three cargo holds, and a hospital ward with 40 beds, a dental clinic, a laboratory, an X-ray unit, and three cargo holds. and accommodation for 420 crew members.
Renamed Anastasis, which in Greek means Resurrection, the ship sailed the high seas for 29 years, during which time an estimated 25,000 volunteer crew served on board. And he contributed more than half of the total output of Mercy Ships in terms of number of services, value and beneficiaries. An average of 350 crew members from more than 30 nations were living and working on board. Never losing its Italian love heritage, more than 250 couples met on its deck, and several weddings were celebrated on board, including one at sea.