Page 18: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q3 2015)

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career pro? le

Mercy

Ships: a life at sea for all the right reasons

Captain Tim Tretheway’s sel? ess journey at sea spanned almost 30 years and helped to change literally hundreds of thousands of lives – for the better – in the process.

By Joseph Keefe aptain Tim Tretheway’s career path, especially viewed Ships, a global charity, has operated a ? eet of hospital ships in from today’s sometimes mercenary maritime business developing nations since 1978. In a nutshell, Mercy Ships uses

C climate, can be safely characterized as unusual. Rising hospital ships to transform lives and serve nations one at a time. up from the foc’sle, Tretheway also eventually plotted a pro- According to Tretheway, Mercy Ships “brings hope and healing fessional course line that took him to virtually every corner of to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.” the globe. And, unlike today’s mariners who demand – and get The current vessel was acquired in 1999 through a donation – top dollar wages in most disciplines, Tretheway has largely from the Balcraig Foundation. The former Danish rail ferry toiled for the intangible reward of serving the greater good. If Droning Ingrid was re-named the Africa Mercy in April 2000. there is a more unusual and compelling professional story on A £30 million re? t was funded by donations from the Oak the water today, then it hasn’t yet crossed my desk. Foundation and continuing support is received from the Bal- craig Foundation and other Trusts, corporate gifts-in-kind and

Mercy on the Water individual contributors.

Tretheway has been “volunteering” with Mercy Ships for Tretheway told MarPro in August, “In the Mercy Ships sense, more than 28 years, working his way up to Master. Mercy ‘volunteer’ means someone who steps up and says, ‘I want to be 18 Maritime Professional 3Q 2015| | 18-33 Q3 MP2015.indd 18 9/18/2015 9:39:18 AM