The twists and turns of Portuguese history reveal jewels that are often overlooked, and the hospital ship Gil Eannes is one of these singular treasures. Let's delve into the past to discover how this ship provided essential support to the Portuguese cod-fishing fleet, marking a unique page in Portugal's medical and maritime history.
The Gil Eannes hospital ship, its history
Built at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do CasteloThe ship was designed with a specially reinforced hull to navigate the icy northern seas. It was designed in compliance with the latest standards of the 1948 London Convention. Equipped with specialized compartments, this ship was much more than just a means of transport. It offered crucial medical support to the cod-fishing fleet, standing out as an outstanding example of investment in state-of-the-art equipment.
She could accommodate not only a crew of seventy-two and five passengers, but also seventy-four patients, a capacity that could be extended to 320 beds in the event of a disaster. Equipped with modern hospital facilities, she was considered the best ship in the world at the time. A fact that cannot be ignored: she was the largest and best-equipped salvage fleet in the European Union.
Crucial maritime assistance
Requisitioned during the war, the ship, which at the time bore the name of the German Lahnec, played a vital role in transporting troops and sailing to the Azores. However, her real mission began on May 16, 1927, when she set sail for the first time as a fishing assistance vessel, offering regular hospital assistance until 1941.
Assistance story
In the late 19th century, Portuguese entrepreneurs ventured into the frigid northern seas to ensure a steady supply of cod, despite difficult fishing conditions. The ships were often ill-equipped, putting the fishermen to a severe test. It was then that the first Gil Eannes hospital ship was born, establishing a history of assistance that has endured to the present day.
The ship, described by fishermen as the "Mercy of the Sea", was equipped with sophisticated facilities for its time. It included an operating theater, specialized infirmaries, chapel, dining room, pharmacy, laundry and many other modern facilities. The ship achieved considerable medical prowess, performing over 4,500 consultations, 400 hospitalizations, 70 major surgical procedures, and 200 dental extractions per fishing season, without registering a single death on board.
Gil Eannes today
Despite a moment of oblivion in Lisbon's docks in 1998, the Gil Eannes was saved from demolition by the Gil Eannes Foundation. She has been carefully restored and is now moored in the old commercial dock at Viana do Castelo, open to the public. She remains the only existing example of the ocean-going fleet built in Portugal during the 20th century, a living piece of Portuguese history.
Join us as we explore the fascinating workings of this hospital ship, a symbol of a time when the sea was both a challenge and a solution for intrepid Portuguese fishermen. Welcome aboard the Gil Eannes, where every corner tells an exceptional medical and maritime story.
