Volunteers in Scotland are being urged to come aboard

The Anastasis has helped ease the suffering of millions of people throughout the world.

It has the latest medical technology, three operating rooms, a dental clinic, a laboratory and an x-ray unit.

The 522ft vessel, run by the charity Mercy Ships, will head for Liberia after 10 days in the city.

The Anastasis, which helps as many as one million people every year, is crewed by 300 volunteers with a wide range of skills and hopes to swell its ranks while in Scotland.

It is hard, particularly in west Africa, it's very hot and humid and that is often very tiring but it's also immensely rewarding work Edgar van Hoek Medical supplies co-ordinator

Volunteers have served in Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin.

The vessel will be open to the public from 16 to 19 September.

Daslin Small, executive director of the Anastasis, said: "The main message we have on board the vessel is to bring help and healing to people who are suffering."

Ms Small said staff provide services including facial surgery, obstetrics, orthopaedics, mostly for children with birth defects, as well as conducting community health education.

She added: "We have three small operating rooms, but they are well-equipped and we service the hospital by having volunteers coming for anything from two weeks to six months.

"We have a ward for post-op recovery, it's very tight but we can house about 40 patients."

Donated supplies

Edgar van Hoek, a volunteer who works as the ship's medical supplies co-ordinator, said: "Two years ago I came on the ship for a five-month training programme and after that I felt I should come back and I've committed for two years, I'm about half way through that but I'd like to stay longer.

"It is hard, particularly in west Africa, it's very hot and humid and that is often very tiring but it's also immensely rewarding work."

It will head for war-torn Liberia with 250 tonnes of supplies, most of which have come from people in Scotland.

Members of the public and businesses have already been to Victoria Docks, bringing medical tools, water and food stocks to the ship.

More than 80 pairs of crutches were donated by a former crew member

More than �50,000 of vital supplies have been gifted to the Anastasis including 9,000 litres of milk, 48 tonnes of cement and 1,500 toothbrushes.

Douglas Sammon, a retired orthopaedic surgeon from Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow who has previously served on the ship, donated 80 pairs of crutches.

Mr Sammon said: "My time on the ship made me realise what a privileged life I lead in Scotland.

"I now see just how unfair the rich/poor divide is and to witness this first-hand is very humbling."

Food has also been donated from Baxters of Fochabers and United Auctions.

One of the driving forces behind the trip is Scottish entrepreneur and Stagecoach co-founder Ann Gloag, who is on the international board of Mercy Ships.

Ms Gloag, who is a former nurse, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people and businesses of Scotland."

The UK provides manpower and financial support for Mercy Ships, a global charity which has operated hospital ships since 1978.

About 10% of the ship's crew is made up of people from Britain and in 2003 the UK contributed �3.2m to the charity.