Video: Navy Hospital Ship "Auspicious Ark" Undertakes Its First Overseas Mission

Yesterday (22nd), the Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Qingdao, Shandong, to Africa and South Asia to carry out the "Harmonious Mission-2026" overseas humanitarian medical service task and conduct friendly visits.

This is the first overseas mission for the Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" since its commissioning, and it is also the 12th time the Chinese Navy has carried out the "Harmonious Mission." The medical personnel for this mission are primarily from the Navy's medical support forces in the Northern Theater Command, supplemented by over 100 medical personnel from the Navy Medical University and the Joint Logistics Support Force. The hospital ship has 18 clinical departments and 5 auxiliary departments, capable of performing over 60 types of examinations, treatments, and surgeries, including general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, and ophthalmology. The ship is equipped with 8 standard operating rooms that can perform surgeries simultaneously. Additionally, it carries a shipboard rescue helicopter, which has the capability to conduct emergency rescue operations.

It is understood that during the medical service period, the hospital ship will provide onboard diagnosis and treatment as well as medical teams for outreach consultations, offering treatment for common and frequently occurring diseases to local residents, personnel from Chinese institutions, and overseas Chinese. It will also engage in professional discussions and cultural exchanges with relevant countries.

"Peace Ark" hospital ship's first overseas mission

The Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark," hull number 868, was commissioned in May 2025, and is the third 10,000-ton ocean-going hospital ship independently designed and built by China, belonging to the Northern Theater Command Navy.

As the most advanced hospital ship in China, it is equipped with state-of-the-art medical support equipment and experienced medical personnel. In wartime, it can provide early treatment and some specialized care for the injured at sea, and in peacetime, it can perform maritime medical rescue missions, providing medical services for naval fleets and troops stationed in remote areas such as islands and reefs, as well as carrying out international humanitarian rescue missions.

For this first overseas mission of the "Harmonious Mission," the medical staff on board extensively reviewed relevant medical materials to understand the common and frequently occurring diseases in the service areas. They prepared corresponding medical supplies and medications based on the potential medical needs they might encounter, ensuring the successful completion of this overseas humanitarian medical service task.

Fully integrated into the Navy's "Harmonious Mission" medical service task system

The departure of the Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" marks the full integration of the three 10,000-ton ocean-going hospital ships—"Peace Ark," "Silk Road Ark," and "Lucky Ark"—which were independently designed and built by China, into the Navy's "Harmonious Mission" overseas humanitarian medical service task system.

The "Harmonious Mission" task has been led by the Chinese Navy since 2010 to carry out overseas humanitarian medical services. The first 10 "Harmonious Mission" tasks were undertaken by the "Peace Ark" hospital ship. The 11th "Harmonious Mission," which began last year and was completed in April this year, was undertaken by the "Silk Road Ark" hospital ship.

This "Harmonious Mission-2026" task is undertaken by the "Lucky Ark" hospital ship, marking the first time the Northern Theater Command Navy has executed this task, planned to last over 200 days, providing free medical services to local residents in Africa and South Asia.