Charterers, brokers, traders and owners have turned the spotlight on the caring side of shipping by raising more than $500,000 so far for this year’s Mercy Ships Cargo Day.

That total is set to rise over the next few weeks as more companies get involved and the amount of money from contributed brokerage commissions becomes clear.

The money raised to help fund the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, the 16,572-gt Africa Mercy (built 1980), is already double the amount pledged this far ahead of last year's Cargo Day.