Chinese hospital ship 'Silk Road Ark' visits Jamaica and provides medical services

The Chinese PLA Navy's hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" arrives in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 4, 2025.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Dec. 5 -- On December 4 local time, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship "Silk Road Ark", which is on the Mission Harmony 2025, arrived at Montego Bay, Jamaica, commencing a 12-day friendly visit and medical services.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in late October, causing casualties and significant property damage to its southwestern coast, and put the local medical system under tremendous pressure. At the request of the Jamaican side, the Chinese naval hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" will dock at three ports in Jamaica - Montego Bay, Kingston, and Falmouth - to provide medical services to local residents for 12 days.

This marks the second time that a Chinese naval hospital ship has provided medical services in Jamaica since the "Peace Ark" hospital ship visited the country in 2011. This is also the first time that a Chinese naval hospital ship has docked at multiple ports within the same country to provide medical services since the launch of the Chinese PLA Navy's "Harmony Mission" series of tasks, and also represents the longest duration of medical services delivered within a single nation.

Overseas Chinese welcome the arrival of the Chinese naval hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" as it docks at Montego Bay, Jamaica on December 4, 2025.