Tatham Macinnes’ Capt Matt Forbes spends a month in command of medical aid vessel in Papua New Guinea

Tatham Macinnes are proud to sponsor one of their Master Mariner and Solicitor, Capt Matt Forbes, who has returned from acting as Master of the medical aid vessel YWAM PNG.

Working in partnership with the local government, the converted former passenger vessel provides medical assistance to remote areas of Papua New Guinea (PNG), with onboard medical facilities including a fully operational eye surgery unit, dental clinic and laboratory.

The ship, an aluminium catamaran, was built in Australia in 1999 and it can accommodate up to 120 people living onboard.

Matt explained:

“Every crew member from the eye surgeon to the cook is a volunteer.  The ship provides essential services to villages lacking in the most basic of health care, with a fleet of RIB’s ferrying medical teams ashore and then patients back to the vessel for treatment.  One patient had lost her sight at the age of 15 due to cataracts in both eyes.  The lady had trekked for two days down from her steep mountain village to the ship for help.  After two operations she regained her sight for the first time in 17 years.  This is only one of the many life changing results for the patients and I’d like to thank Alex and Sora for helping sponsor my trip”.

More information on the vessel, donating or volunteering can be found at www.ywamships.org.au