Bourne business Priory Marine answers Stamford Supports Ukraine calls for boat to help Kherson region
Help is needed to transport a donated boat over to a Ukraine region which was badly flooded when a dam was bombed.
Priory Marine, based in Dyke, near Bourne, has donated a boat and outboard motor to the Stamford Supports Ukraine (SSU) group.
Boats are in high demand in the Kherson region after the Kakhovka dam was blown up in 2023.
The trusty 30-year-old 18ft dory will get a new lease of life delivering supplies, moving people fleeing the encroaching frontlines, and evacuating wounded military and civilians.
SSU member Anne-Marie Hamill approached Priory Marine owner Chris Bates with the unusual request and he had a personal motivation to help.
“My wife Jeniya is Ukrainian and we’ve been married for 21 years so we have history with the place,” he said.
“The young lady in the office is also Ukrainian, and we’ve had the boat in the yard for a while so I thought it would be ideal.
“It needs some TLC but it floats and it’s seaworthy - just what they’re looking for.
“The trailer is not roadworthy so the issue is getting it over there. It needs either someone to donate a trailer for it, so they can tow it, or for someone to transport it across there.”
Anne-Marie wants to hear from a logistics company - or donations to pay for the cost - to help take the boat to either Krakow, in Poland, or just across the border to Lviv, in western Ukraine.
“The demand for small boats, RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), and fast outboard motors is great and our partner charity Sustain Ukraine has a list of people wanting them,” she said.
“The marine guys based down in Kherson also need donations of good quality kit, such as dry suits, cold weather thick neoprene wetsuits, hoods, gloves and booties, as well as diving equipment.”
Priory Marine welcomed in customer service administrator Natalya when she fled Mariupol, in southeast Ukraine, which was the scene of fierce fighting early in the conflict.
As well as losing her own flat in the city, a second flat, bought as an investment, was also destroyed.
“My wife Jeniya has stood back from it and can’t really listen to news because it’s really heartbreaking for her,” Chris added.
Chris set up the marine services business seven years ago, which mainly repairs and services boats and counts the Ministry of Defence as their biggest contractor.
It also maintains the Center Parcs fleet of rescue and leisure boats, and counts His Majesty King Charles as a customer, supplying The Royal Parks with a fleet of electric boats for hire in Hyde Park.
If you can help, email amhamill@hotmail.com or to donate towards transportation costs, visit the SSU JustGiving page at https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anne-marie-hamill
