Shield. The dominate red cross on the white background is a characterization of the actual image of the ship, which is bright white and bears a large red cross on its front, bow, and sides. Here, the shield sits surrounded by a light blue scroll, alluding to the ship gently sailing through rolling waves of water. The red cross is an iconic symbol that denotes a hospital or medical vessel. Surmounting the cross is a gold polestar which suggests a positive guiding force, expressing the USNS MERCY’s long-held role in caring for military personnel injured in combat or humanitarian support missions. The soft, subtle background of the shield paired with the strong, bold cross describes the general nature of a medical ship, providing comfort and care while possessing a clear, unrelenting presence wherever they are needed.
Crest. The wreath adopts the first-named metal and color from the shield and blazon. The stars on the scroll denote the two battle stars awarded to USNS MERCY during World War II. These battle stars held by the doves, a symbol of peace, refer to the regular dichotomy of war and peace-time (humanitarian and disaster relief) operations ever-present in the mission of a U.S. Navy hospital ship. The doves also signify the 25th Annual Peacemaker Award given to the master and crew of USNS MERCY for its participation in the Pacific Partnership in 2012 by the National Conflict Resolution Center. The caduceus is another immediately recognizable symbol of medicine and healthcare. The trident attached to the top reiterates USNS MERCY’s assignment as a medical vessel for the U.S. Navy. The three prongs of the trident also highlight that this is the third ship to be named after the virtue, Mercy.
Seal. The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white oval within a dark blue designation band, edged with a gold roped border and bearing the name “USNS MERCY” at the top and “T-AH 19” at the base.