Finning donates marine expertise to help medical charity

Finning UK and Ireland (Finning) has donated parts and engineering expertise to oversee and commission the installation of Cat® engines and marine gensets on the MV Forth Hope; a brand new charity ship that will enable more than two million people in the developing World to receive medical treatment.

Newly built for the Vine Trust, an international development charity based in Leith, Edinburgh, the vessel was constructed at the Albion dockyard in Bristol before sailing to Rosyth for fitting out in preparation for its official launch in May this year.

Steve Berry, general manager at Finning explains why the company was so keen to get involved.

“As the sole distributor for Cat marine engines in the UK, we are used to specifying, installing and commissioning the propulsion and auxiliary engine systems for a wide range of vessels.

“So when the Vine Trust needed a reliable partner that could oversee the installation of the ship’s power requirements, we were delighted to give our backing to the project. After all, it’s not often that our engineers get to work on a vessel that will have such a significant and positive impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.”

The engines and generator sets had already been donated by Barloworld, the Cat dealer in South Africa, comprising two Cat C4.4 gensets in enclosures, a Cat Olympian harbour genset and a Cat C12 main propulsion engine with ZF transmission and throttle system.

As a result, Finning marine engineers worked with the team at the dockyard to complete and commission the installation, including the complete exhaust system, wiring requirements, the monitoring and alarm system and the vessel’s emergency shutdown system.

Steve Berry continues: “The MV Forth Hope will be delivering medical care in the Peruvian Amazon from as early as July 2017 and it is hoped that it will be in service for at least 25 years; treating around 100,000 patients each year. 

“Operating in such a remote location and for extended service intervals, it is vital that the engines and on-board electric power systems can perform reliably.

“Therefore, as well as undertaking all commissioning and sea trials, our engineers also changed all the fluids and filters on the main engine and generator sets to ensure longevity.”

Vine Trust chief executive, Willie McPherson added: “We are indebted to Finning for providing parts, time and technical expertise on this project, completely free of charge.

“We have received a huge amount of support from the marine and engineering communities and without the generosity of Finning and the 16 other businesses that have backed this project, we simply wouldn’t be able to carry out our vital medical work that is so desperately needed in this part of the World.”

The Vine Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign called #FloatTheBoat to help raise much needed funds to help support the work of the charity.  To donate visit mydonate.bt.com/events/floattheboat.

To find out more about the work of the Vine Trust visit www.vinetrust.org or their social media channels at facebook.com/vinetrust, twitter.com/vinetrust or instagram.com/vinetrust