HRH The Princess Royal names Forth Hope
On Saturday 20th May, Vine Trust was delighted to welcome our patron, HRH The Princess Royal, to name our new medical vessel, “MV Forth Hope”, at Babcock International in Rosyth.
The Amazon-bound 35 metre Forth Hope, currently being outfitted in a project supported by Babcock and 30 marine and medical organisations, sailed into Rosyth at the end of 2016 to be transformed into a fully-equipped medical ship - complete with a laboratory, pharmacy, operating theatre, consultation rooms and dental surgery.
Ahead of its epic 7,000 mile journey from the River Forth, across the Atlantic Ocean and along the iconic Amazon River, HRH The Princess Royal joined Vine Trust Chief Executive, Willie McPherson, and representatives from Babcock International aboard the ship, where she formally named Forth Hope and unveiled a commemorative plaque. HRH The Princess Royal joined a tour of the vessel, viewing the exceptional healthcare facilities, as well as the social areas and cabins for crew and volunteers.
After meeting representatives of Vine Trust and the many organisations that have generously contributed to the outfitting of the ship, HRH The Princess Royal addressed the assembled guests, speaking warmly of Vine Trust’s work and of the life-changing impact Forth Hope will have on remote communities living on the Peruvian Amazon.
Willie McPherson, Vine Trust’s Chief Executive, said, “It has been wonderful to see so many organisations generously contribute to this life-changing project, and we look forward to sharing stories from Forth Hope’s Atlantic voyage and its medical work on the Peruvian Amazon.”
Due to leave Babcock’s facility in late June or early July, Forth Hope will deliver primary healthcare to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. It is anticipated to provide 100,000 free consultations and treatments each year, and more than 2 million consultations over the next 20 years.