The hospital ship Mercy chopped into 7th Fleet Wednesday to participate in Pacific Partnership, an annual humanitarian aid mission that dates back to the 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in the Asia Pacific region.

The Mercy, alongside the joint high speed vessel Millinocket, will visit Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam to provide medical care, health education services and disaster relief preparation training, according to a Pacific Fleet release.

It is the 10th such exercise and is being supported by countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Canada, Timor Leste, Fiji and France.

The Mercy arrived in the region a week after colliding with striking the battleship Arizona Memorial while under tugs pulling out of Pearl Harbor.

Officials said Wednesday that repairs to the iconic floating white dock over the wreck are near completion, but are a little behind schedule, but almost complete.

"We know this situation is causing a great deal of inconvenience this week, and we certainly appreciate the understanding and forbearance of veterans, visitors and kama'aina," said Capt. Stan Keeve, head of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, using the Hawaiian phrase for Hawaiians. "We're working as quickly as possible — but as safely as possible — to complete the repairs."

The collision damagesd moved the dock about 10 feet off center. Divers Wednesday divers adjusted anchor chains to position the floating platform correctly.

The Arizona was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the memorial is the final resting place of more than 900 sailors entombed inside.

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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