US hospital ship heads to Pacific after Panama canal transit amid Greenland controversy

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy is currently sailing north along the Pacific coast off Mexico after completing a Panama Canal transit, according to recent AIS vessel tracking data.

The vessel departed Alabama Shipyard in Mobile in late February 2026 after undergoing repairs to ballast tanks. Shortly after departure, AIS data showed the ship maintaining speeds of around 10–11 knots while heading south through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Yucatán Channel, suggesting a likely canal transit rather than a route to the U.S. East Coast.

The ship’s movements attracted attention after President Donald Trump announced plans to send a U.S. hospital ship to Greenland, citing healthcare concerns in the Arctic territory. However, Greenland’s leadership rejected the idea, stating the region already operates a universal public healthcare system.

AIS data later confirmed that USNS Mercy transited the Panama Canal and is now sailing toward the U.S. West Coast, where the vessel is expected to undergo a major maintenance period in Portland, Oregon later in 2026.