Amazon Hope 1 Recommissioned by HRH The Princess Royal
A great deal of action today. AH1 lifted off floating dock blocks at 08.18 ( Peru time ). It was the eleventh hour, and a bit more.
Still I am pleased to say it was a splendid undocking and it lifted off the blocks 'bang up right' considering the unfinished state below the main deck.
Now to the Royal visit. We spent about 3 hours dressing the ship overall including Scottish flag flying from the forward jack stay, the Peruvian flying on the main mast and the BAE Systems banner erected along the front of the Prom Deck rails.
HRH The Princess Royal arrived by boat on time at 15.35. I was privileged to meet her again for the second time under the banner of The Vine Trust and she talked with me for about 10 minutes with regards to what the extension and refit would mean to the health care of the peoples of the Amazon.
There is a great deal of work still to be done on Amazon Hope 1. Having said that, I give Da Costa full marks for a very good new section, especially the deck work.
Report from Tom Dunn, Naval Architect
A video of the Re-commissioning can be seen by following this link.
Da Costa Shipbuilding in Iquitos are undertaking the refit and lengthening of Amazon Hope 1- at cost.
The medical ship has now been chopped in two and lengthened by 10 metres to provide even more medical facilities on board and to reduce the vessel's draught by almost 1 metre. This will enable it to reach even further in to the Amazon River system and maintain an all year round service to outlying communities.
The alterations are being overseen by BAE Senior Naval Architect
Tom Dunn who has been seconded to the project by BAE Naval Ships. The refit should be completed in time to see AH1 back in service by mid summer.
You can read a report of the work and look at some more pictures of the refit by clicking here
You can watch videos of the chopping in two, lengthening and sandblasting