A hospital ship is designed and constructed to serve as a medical facility similar to hospitals.
A hospital ship replicates a land-based comprehensive medical facility, whose features depend on size, type and requirement.
They were mainly built as military vessels to serve as healthcare facilities required during times of crisis like wars.
From a design point of view, they do not have any requirements for speed or power as they are in-situ treatment facilities.
There should be adequate volumes for the proper accommodation of patients, and medical crew.
A hospital ship needs to de-port at any shore to re-load the indispensables during long-term demands.
Stability and seakeeping is of paramount importance for hospital ships.
In terms of operations, hospital ships mostly try to avoid rough sea states.