The SSF Ania (IMO number9203605; MMSI number: 341200001) is a RO-RO ship flagged in St. Kitts Nevis, turned into a hospital ship of the United Arab Emirates, for Gazan relief in 2023 Israel-Hamas War. The decks of the RO-RO vehicle transport house a 100-bed mobile hospital unit and ambulances, operating since February 2024 from the port of Arish, on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt; just beyond the borders of the Gaza Strip.

Specifications

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[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

  • Name: Ania
  • IMO registry: 9203605
  • MMSI registry: 341200001
  • Callsign: V4IY5
  • Nation of registry: Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Classification registrar: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
  • Owner: Simatech Shipping & Forwarding (SSF)
  • Launched: 1999
  • Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • Shipyard: MHI Shimonoseki
  • Class: Class A cargo carrier
  • Type: RO-RO cargo ship
  • Gross tonnage: 23503
  • Dead weight tonnage (DWT): 5618
  • Length (LOA): 200 m (660 ft)
  • Length (LBP): 188 m (617 ft)
  • Width: 25 m (82 ft)
  • Depth: 21 m (69 ft)
  • Draught: 7 m (23 ft)

History

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The ship was built by Mitsubishi in Japan, and launched in 1999 from Shimonoseki.[5] It was originally named "Sunflower Tomakomai",[5] and operated by Blue Highway.[7]

In 2008, the ship was reflagged as being registered in Malta.[2]

In 2009, the ship was renamed to "Aegean Heaven",[5] operated by Aegean Cargo Management SA.[7]

In 2014, the ship was renamed to "Ayshe",[5] still under the management of Aegean Cargo.[7]

In Feburary 2022, the ship was reflagged as being registered in Panama.[2] In May 2022, the ship was renamed to "DCL Qingdao" or plainly Qingdao,[2] operated by Hivavi Marine.[7]

In May 2023, the ship was reflagged as being registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and she was renamed to "SSF Ania" or plainly Ania,[2] and operated by Simatech Shipping & Forwarding (SSF).[6]

In August 2023, the ship was reflaged as being registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis.[2]

In September 2023, the ship arrived in Abu Dhabi to start operations as an RO-RO ferry, operating between the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, running for the Safeen Group, a subsidiary of AD Ports.[8]

In February 2024, the ship arrived at Al-Arish, Sinai, Egypt, to perform duties as a floating hospital for the Palestinian injured of Gaza, part of the UAE's relief measures for the civilians affected by the 2023 Israel-Hamas Gaza War. As a hospital ship, it is a 100-bed hospital equipped with ambulances, boats, a helicopter pad, operating rooms, intensive care units, radiological unit, a laboratory, a pharmacy, medical warehouses. The hospital is a joint effort between the Emirati Ministry of Defense, Emirati Ministry of Health, and, Abu Dhabi Ports Group (ADPorts). As of July 2024, the hospital has performed circa 1000 operations and treated circa 2500 patients. In August 2024, Indonesian medical teams on rotation started working aboard ship.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

References

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  1. ^ "SSF ANIA - Ro-Ro Cargo - IMO: 9203605". Marine Traffic. 287768. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "SSF ANIA, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship, IMO 9203605". Vessel Finder. 9203605. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  3. ^ "SSF ANIA (IMO 9203605) - Ro-Ro Cargo Ship". Vessel Tracking. 9203605. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  4. ^ "SSF ANIA, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship, IMO 9203605". Position. Marine Vessel Traffic. 9203605/341200001. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "SSF ANIA, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship, IMO 9203605". ISM. Marine Vessel Traffic. 9203605/341200001. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "SSF Ania". China Shipbuilding. pklujyukkpp4bBbXFanmkhTk8Pl4EN. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "MS DCL QINGDAO; Panama". Ship Vault. 113266. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  8. ^ "New Ro-Ro Vessel Arrives at Shuwaikh Port Following Launch of Ro-Ro Shipping Service from Khalifa Port". AD Ports Group. 27 September 2023.
  9. ^ "UAE floating hospital starts receiving wounded Palestinians". Dubai Eye 103.8. ARN. 26 February 2024.
  10. ^ Hazem Hussein, Khoder Nashar (6 May 2024). "UAE Floating Hospital: Continuous efforts to support Palestinian people in Gaza". Emirates News Agency. b30lt6z.
  11. ^ "Gazans on lifeline hospital ship tell of lost mothers, fathers and children". The National. 9 July 2024.
  12. ^ Ali Al Shouk (6 July 2024). "'You open your eyes under rubble': Gazans on UAE's floating hospital grieve their losses". The National.
  13. ^ Ismaeel Naar (26 February 2024). "UAE floating hospital begins receiving Gaza patients at Al Arish port". The National.
  14. ^ "UAE floating hospital sets sail to treat Gaza patients". The National. 8 February 2024.
  15. ^ Becky Anderson (10 July 2024). "A look inside the floating hospital helping Gaza's 'invisible victims'". CNN.
  16. ^ "U.A.E.'s Floating Hospital Commences Gaza Patient Assistance". Defense Mirror. 26 February 2024. 36203.
  17. ^ "Menabur Benih Kemanusiaan antara Rafah dan El Arish" [Sowing the Seeds of Humanity between Rafah and El Arish] (in Indonesian). Portal Informasi Indonesia. 12 August 2024. Pengungsi-pengungsi asal Palestina ini sedang menjalani perawatan di SSF Ania, rumah sakit terapung berkapasitas 100 tempat tidur milik Pemerintah UEA. Mengutip penjelasan Arab News, SSF Ania telah berada di El Arish, sekitar 40 kilometer dari perbatasan Palestina dan Mesir di Rafah, Gaza Selatan sejak 25 Februari 2024 lalu. Kapal rumah sakit apung ini bagian operasi kemanusiaan UEA bertajuk Gallant Knight 3 yang telah dimulai 3 Desember 2023 termasuk membangun 2 rumah sakit lapangan tipe Sahara di Jalur Gaza. [These Palestinian refugees are undergoing treatment at SSF Ania, a 100-bed floating hospital owned by the UAE Government. Quoting Arab News' explanation , SSF Ania has been in El Arish, about 40 kilometers from the Palestinian and Egyptian borders in Rafah, South Gaza since February 25, 2024. This floating hospital ship is part of the UAE's humanitarian operation entitled Gallant Knight 3 which began on December 3, 2023, including building 2 Sahara-type field hospitals in the Gaza Strip.]
  18. ^ "Humanitarian Efforts for Rafah through El Arish". Portal Informasi Indonesia. 12 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Indonesia's Medical Workers Enter Gaza; Treat Patients at UAE Field Hospital". Tempo.co. 9 September 2024.
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See also

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