The hospital ship Jubilee Hope was recently christened by the Princess Royal, in Tanzania on Lake Victoria. The 160 ton ship will provide health services to 150 remote island communities with 400,000 people on the large inland lake. She will be operated by Vine Trust, an international charity.

The 8,585 mile voyage of the Jubilee Hope is as remarkable as her new service. She began her life as RMAS Dunster, a Royal Navy tender. Converted to a hospital ship on the Clyde by BAE Systems, the ship has a full dental surgery, operating room, two consulting areas, an eye surgery and a laboratory. It will host life-changing cataract operations, offer a dentistry service and provide help for difficult labors and a range of other healthcare needs.

The ship sailed from Glasgow last January 22.  After a 246 day voyage, the ship arrived at Mwanza, Kenya and was made ready for the last and possibly most difficult leg of its voyage, a 500 mile trek overland.   To fit under low power lines, the funnel and part of the deck house was cut off before the rest of the ship was loaded onto a flatbed to be hauled by truck to the shores of Lake Victoria.

A Beacon of Hope – The Jubilee Hope

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.