29 Jun 2005
Amazon Hope 2, formerly Royal Navy Fleet Diving Tender HMS Ixworth, begins a new lease of life as an Amazon-based medical supplies vessel this week, thanks to young apprentices at defence and aerospace company BAE Systems. On Thursday 30 June, following a 12 month programme of refurbishment and upgrade at the companys Barrow-in-Furness facilities, the ship will be re-commissioned into service by HRH The Princess Royal, during the International Festival of the Sea in Portsmouth.
Amazon Hope 2 is the second vessel to be refurbished by BAE Systems for The Vine Trust, the charity behind the Amazon Ferry Project, which delivers critically important medical supplies to the people of the Amazon.
IXWORTH arrived with BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness last year. She has since been refurbished and converted into a floating medical vessel. Last month, IXWORTH was re-named Amazon Hope 2 by Barrow-in-Furness schoolgirl Kirsten Bell, before it departed for a promotional tour around the United Kingdom.
The conversion of Ixworth has included provision of additional accommodation for nurses and visiting medical teams and the creation of an operating theatre and dentistry room.
Murray Easton, Managing Director, BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow said: This mammoth charitable task has only been possible through the generosity of a number of people from within BAE Systems and the local community. We have used apprentices to develop their skills on this conversion, using surplus materials where possible. This has been a very emotional project for the team and their commitment has been tremendous converting this ship in only 11 months.
The Vine Trust needed to raise 100,000 to cover the cost of equipment and materials. BAE Systems employees have helped with this fundraising. The total raised to date within the Barrow community is over 156,000 in cash donations and gifts in kind, which has allowed additional items to be added to Ixworths specification.
Albert Bogle, Chairman of the Vine Trust said: I was overwhelmed by BAE Systems generosity in donating skilled labour. The people of the Amazon suffer from cholera, yellow fever and chronic asthma. I have seen people burst into tears of joy and relief when we arrive in villages on the Amazon River, when they realise that we are offering them expert Western medicine for nothing in return.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The Company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The Company employs nearly 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $25 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.
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