Huge hospital ship arrives in Tokyo, offers disaster lessons

A converted oil tanker that now ranks as one of the world's largest floating hospitals made its first stop in Tokyo late June 15. The U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Mercy, which docked at Oi Marine Products Wharf in Tokyo's Ota Ward, is equipped with about 1,000 beds, 12 operating theaters, an intensive care unit and CT scanning equipment. Its main mission is to provide medical care for combat troops wounded in action. It was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990 before the start of military combat in Iraq. It can transport a maximum of 1,300 people, including medical personnel. The Japanese government invited the Mercy to Japan to gain a better understanding of ways to provide emergency medical care during natural disasters.