MV Forth Hope

MV Forth Hope
Forth Hope in 2016 before departing Abels Shipyard in Bristol for Rosyth Dockyard
History
NameMV Forth Hope
OwnerVine Trust
BuilderAbels Shipbuilders
Launched2002
Christened2017
IdentificationMMSI:319111900
General characteristics
Length35 metres (115 ft)
Beam10 metres (33 ft)
Draught1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in)

The MV Forth Hope is a medical ferry operated by the Vine Trust as part of the charity's Amazon Hope project.[1] The ship operates on the Amazon River from a base in Iquitos in Peru. The Forth Hope is 35 metres (115 ft) in length and has a beam of 10 metres (33 ft). In her medical missionary role, she is equipped with consultation rooms, operating theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, and dental surgery.[2][3][4] The vessel flies a Cayman Islands flag. It has a draught of 1.9 metres, is 35 metres long and 10 metres in breadth, and has a maximum speed of 7.1 knots.[5][6]

History

The Forth Hope was originally built in 2002 by Abels Shipbuilders of Bristol, England for the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. She is a twin sister ship to the Spirit of Gosport, a passenger ferry also built by Abels, that connects Gosport and Portsmouth on England's south coast. Forth Hope was intended to be named Spirit of Portsmouth and operate alongside her sister. However, she was only partially constructed when the ferry company cancelled the order, and she was never given her intended name, which was eventually reused for a subsequent Spirit of Portsmouth built by VT Halmatic. The unfinished vessel remained at Abel's shipyard in Bristol Harbour for many years, until it was finally completed in 2016.[7][2][8][9]

After completion, the vessel was moved to Rosyth Dockyard on the Firth of Forth via the Irish Sea and Caledonian Canal, before being outfitted by Babcock Marine for her new role as a medical ship. In May 2017, the ship was formally named Forth Hope by the Princess Royal, who is patron of the Vine Trust. Leaving the Forth in July, the vessel completed her delivery voyage, of nearly 6,800 miles (10,900 km), when she arrived in Iquitos on 7 September 2017. The vessel was again visited by the Princess Royal in September 2017, this time whilst she was moored at the Peruvian village of Oran.[7][2][10][11]

References

  1. ^ "Princess Royal names amazon-bound medical ship 'Forth Hope'". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Dalton, Alastair (27 July 2017). "Harbour ferry sails from Rosyth to bring health to Amazon". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Vessel details for Forth Hope". www.marinetraffic.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Princess Anne names Amazon-bound medical ship in Fife". STV. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Vessel details for: FORTH HOPE (Other) - MMSI 319111900, Call Sign ZGFY7 Registered in Cayman Is | AIS Marine Traffic". MarineTraffic.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  6. ^ "FORTH HOPE - Other type - Details and current position MMSI 319111900 | Vessels | VesselFinder". www.vesselfinder.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "New Missionary Ship". Ships Monthly. Vol. 52, no. December 2017. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Forth Hope's Maiden Voyage". Vine Trust. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ^ "New ship passes through Inverness on journey to bring hope to millions | Press and Journal". Press and Journal. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  10. ^ Pooran, Neil. "Scots charity ship in epic 6600-mile Amazon journey". STV. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  11. ^ "HRH The Princess Royal visits the Vine Trust medical ship in Peru". Church of Scotland. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.


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