I’m living in a Port! Mercy Ships is located in the Port of
Conakry Guinea. To get to the ship you must enter through the main port entrance,
showing your ID badge upon entry. The ship is located a 5-8 min walk from the
main gate. Often when walking around the Port there are ships unloading cargo
and large trucks coming and going. (Dad, can you imagine a boat of 500 people
walking around as trucks load and unload onto ships?!?) On days when ships
arrive from America with old cars loaded on, the yard is in grid lock for the
day as everyone tries to drive the cars out of the yard, in addition to add to
the amusement, they have used these cars as containers, filling them to the
point of over flowing with goods! I am not too sure what kind of goods though.
I was talking to a local and if someone wants to send a car from America it
only costs $1 300 to ship the car. In addition if the company receiving the car
is a charity they do not have to pay tax’s to bring the car into Guinea.
Out of the Port side of the ship you can see the docks and
down into where Mercy Ships parks the land rovers. The African Mercy (the name
of our ship) receives Containers from the USA frequently filled with supplies
for the hospital, kitchen and other departments. Mail is also sent via
container. Whenever the staff on board mail post cards, the ship sends a bundle
of mail with someone who is flying out of the country to mail once they arrive
in Europe or the USA.
The mail in Guinea
is not known for being delivered! Out of the Starboard side of the ship you can
sometimes see islands in the distance. I hope to take a boat to the islands one
day, am told that they are beautiful, and the ocean is clean and safe to swim
at once you are on the island. At this time of year, the winds have shifted and
the sand from the Sahara desert clouds the view of the islands, and creates a
gray sunset. The air seems thick with smog and sand. The boats that pass by as
they head out to sea billow black clouds of smoke. I can sit outside for an
hour and still am left wanting a breath of fresh air. The ship is lovely
though. Deck 7 has a wrap around outer deck, and Deck 8 is all outside. The
outer deck area is scattered with chairs and tables and is lit at night. Above
deck 8 is a Pool! It’s a nice social gathering spot in the middle of the day to
dip in for a swim or relax on a lounge chair! The patients are allowed to come
up to Deck 7 for an hour every afternoon if they are stable. Down in the
hospital there are no windows, and the days seem long, there is even a play
area for the kids to play in on the outside decks!
From where is sit now on deck 7 I can hear the bats fly past
and something in the water surface and dive down again.
Two boats sit off with their lights on. I’m
not sure of their purpose. All around the port there are 150-190 ship wrecks! You
are able to see a few rusty bows of ships sticking out of the water as you look
out to the horizon! Apparently when The African Mercy arrived a local Captain
was brought out to the ship to guide as in, since he had local knowledge! Walking
around the outside of the ship is fun. We are allowed to walk among the ropes
and cranes, unlike on the BC ferries where the working parts are roped out of
bounds! I feel like im breaking the rules every time I open a gate and enter
the bow deck area! Other then the humidity it is lovely sitting outside,
enjoying a breeze and watching boats combing and going from the Port of
Conakry. This won’t be my last blog that write while sitting on the decks of
the African Mercy.
I’m living in a Port! Mercy Ships is located in the Port of
Conakry Guinea. To get to the ship you must enter through the main port entrance,
showing your ID badge upon entry. The ship is located a 5-8 min walk from the
main gate. Often when walking around the Port there are ships unloading cargo
and large trucks coming and going. (Dad, can you imagine a boat of 500 people
walking around as trucks load and unload onto ships?!?) On days when ships
arrive from America with old cars loaded on, the yard is in grid lock for the
day as everyone tries to drive the cars out of the yard, in addition to add to
the amusement, they have used these cars as containers, filling them to the
point of over flowing with goods! I am not too sure what kind of goods though.
I was talking to a local and if someone wants to send a car from America it
only costs $1 300 to ship the car. In addition if the company receiving the car
is a charity they do not have to pay tax’s to bring the car into Guinea. 
Out of the Port side of the ship you can see the docks and
down into where Mercy Ships parks the land rovers. The African Mercy (the name
of our ship) receives Containers from the USA frequently filled with supplies
for the hospital, kitchen and other departments. Mail is also sent via
container. Whenever the staff on board mail post cards, the ship sends a bundle
of mail with someone who is flying out of the country to mail once they arrive
in Europe or the USA. The mail in Guinea
is not known for being delivered! Out of the Starboard side of the ship you can
sometimes see islands in the distance. I hope to take a boat to the islands one
day, am told that they are beautiful, and the ocean is clean and safe to swim
at once you are on the island. At this time of year, the winds have shifted and
the sand from the Sahara desert clouds the view of the islands, and creates a
gray sunset. The air seems thick with smog and sand. The boats that pass by as
they head out to sea billow black clouds of smoke. I can sit outside for an
hour and still am left wanting a breath of fresh air. The ship is lovely
though. Deck 7 has a wrap around outer deck, and Deck 8 is all outside. The
outer deck area is scattered with chairs and tables and is lit at night. Above
deck 8 is a Pool! It’s a nice social gathering spot in the middle of the day to
dip in for a swim or relax on a lounge chair! The patients are allowed to come
up to Deck 7 for an hour every afternoon if they are stable. Down in the
hospital there are no windows, and the days seem long, there is even a play
area for the kids to play in on the outside decks!
From where is sit now on deck 7 I can hear the bats fly past
and something in the water surface and dive down again. Two boats sit off with their lights on. I’m
not sure of their purpose. All around the port there are 150-190 ship wrecks! You
are able to see a few rusty bows of ships sticking out of the water as you look
out to the horizon! Apparently when The African Mercy arrived a local Captain
was brought out to the ship to guide as in, since he had local knowledge! Walking
around the outside of the ship is fun. We are allowed to walk among the ropes
and cranes, unlike on the BC ferries where the working parts are roped out of
bounds! I feel like im breaking the rules every time I open a gate and enter
the bow deck area! Other then the humidity it is lovely sitting outside,
enjoying a breeze and watching boats combing and going from the Port of
Conakry. This won’t be my last blog that write while sitting on the decks of
the African Mercy. 
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