The crew of the Afrinca Mercy, adding up to approximately 450 people at any given
time, consits almost entirely of volunteers. In addition to doutors, nurses, technicians
and other health care professionals, the staff is made up of crew members tasked with managing the day-to-day operations of the ship-- from piloting the vessel and carrying out maintenance and repairs to cooking and cleaning to teaching and overseeing childcare. Postings on board the Mercy Ship, which range from two weeks to two years in length, are filled by people who come from more than forty different nations. The team is also complemented by approximately 200 local Africans, who serve as day-workers on the Mercy Ship.