Brazilian Navy signs a contract with Estaleiro Bibi Eireli to order one hospital ship.

According to a statement published by the Brazilian Navy on January 6, 2021, the Brazilian Navy has signed a contract with the Brazilian company Estaleiro Bibi Eireli for the acquisition of one hospital ship.
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NAsH Oswaldo Cruz (U-18) hospital ship of the Brazilian Navy. (Picture source Brazilian Navy)

A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital. Most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones, to conduct humanitarian operations or to provide medical support during natural disasters.

Currently, the Brazilian Navy has five river hospital ships, officially called Infirmary Assistance Ship (Navio de Assistência Hospitalar, in Portuguese), which are designed specifically to provide medical assistance on rivers having shallow waters. The vessels have two sickbays with a total of six berths, an operating theater, up to three dental offices, a laboratory, two clinics, and X-ray facilities.

The hospital ship in service with the Brazilian Navy has a length of 47.18 m, a beam of 8.45 m, a depth of 2.90 m, and full load displacement of 500 tons. The crew of the ship includes 4 officers, 6 doctors and a dentist, 15 technical health personnel, and 21 enlisted men.

The new hospital ship for the Brazilian Navy will be manufactured by the Brazilian company Estaleiro Bibi Eireli and the delivery is scheduled for August 2022. Estaleiro Bibi Eireli is a company based in Brazil, with the main headquarter in Manaus. It operates in the Ship Building and Repairing industry. It was established on May 07, 2002.

The new ship will provide medical support to local people and Civic-Social Actions in riverside and indigenous communities in the country.