CSIC China Shipbuilding Industry Co and international missionary group Mercy Ships turned out to have signed a newbuilding contract to build world's largest hospital ship.

CSIC's vice president Dong Qiang and founder of Mercy Ships Donald K. Stephens and vice president Jim Paterson have signed the contract.

The 36,600-gt hospital ship in length of 174m will be based on a design by Deltamarin.

The ship will be built at CSIC-affiliated Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry for delivery in July 2017, classed by LR.