PLA Navy hospital ship sets sail for 2024 mission

Crew members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" wave good-bye at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 16, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024. During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Yang Jingcong/Xinhua)

HANGZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece.

This is the 10th Mission Harmony for "Peace Ark" since its commissioning in 2008. The "Peace Ark" will offer free diagnosis and treatment for common and prevalent diseases to local residents, people in Chinese institutions, and overseas Chinese through onboard clinics and dispatched medical teams.

There are over 100 personnel on board the maritime hospital, featuring 17 clinical departments and 5 auxiliary diagnostic departments.

The "Peace Ark" is the first domestically designed and constructed standard ocean-going hospital ship in China. It has visited 45 countries and regions, providing medical services to over 290,000 people. 

Crew members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" wave good-bye at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 16, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Lou Sijia/Xinhua)

Crew members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" wave good-bye at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 16, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Liu Zhilei/Xinhua)

Crew members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" attend a rescue training session before setting sail for the Mission Harmony-2024, on June 1, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Liu Zhilei/Xinhua)

Crew members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" wave good-bye at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 16, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Liu Zhilei/Xinhua)

A helicopter is pictured during an anti-terrorism and anti-pirate training session of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" before it sets sail for the Mission Harmony-2024, on June 2, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Liu Zhilei/Xinhua)

A crew member of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" is pictured during a tactics training session before setting sail for the Mission Harmony-2024, on June 1, 2024. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning for Mission Harmony-2024.

During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece. (Photo by Liu Zhilei/Xinhua)