Gold Rover expected in Rio for their Summer Solstice
Tristan Administrator David Morley, writing on 20th December adds a footnote to the special journey of the RFA Gold Rover from Ascension to Rio de Janeiro via Tristan da Cunha ~
"Following its delivery of medical supplies, Gold Rover will complete its voyage when it arrives in Rio de Janeiro on 21 December. On board and en route back to UK are Jacki Morley (sadly for compassionate reasons) and Sue Scott, a conservationist diver and photographer who was stranded on Tristan due to congestion on the Ovenstone vessels.
The community would like to say a final "thank you" to Gold Rover, whose company were forced to change their Christmas plans at very short notice to accommodate the unscheduled visit to Tristan."
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RFA Gold Rover arrives with vital drugsRFA Gold Rover arrived after its 3261 km or 2026 mile sea journey from Ascension Island on Sunday 16th December, completing an overall drug trip of over 10,006 km or 6217 miles (including an UK-Ascension air trip) to Tristan da Cunha! The Tristan community is most grateful for the prompt response of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Royal Navy in arranging this extra-ordinary pre - Christmas delivery of drugs to ensure islanders' medication did not run out before the next scheduled ship in late January. See also Hospital News. |
11th December mail drop by Cosco KarachiReport from Tristan Administrator David Morley |
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The container ship photographed by David Morley (left & below) and by Claire Volkwyn |
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This morning saw a (rather exciting for us townies!) mail drop by the "Cosco Karachi", a huge container ship out of Santos (Brazil ) bound for Singapore. The enormous vessel came close in and slowed right down. The mail drum, sealed in a buoy, was dropped overboard. In pretty rough seas the Atlantic Dawn skillfully picked it up and brought it back safely. The Administrator and the German skipper exchanged warm Christmas greetings over the radio as the ship resumed course and speed. Contents of the drum included a large consignment of mail for posting as well as some gifts of the traditionally unhealthy kind. These were shared out amongst the boat crew. As one of the crew is under age, he was given the drum, with which he was delighted! |
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MV Kelso
arrived on Friday 30th November 2007 with the last incoming mail before Christmas for the world's most isolated community.
MS Explorer's Tristan visit cancelled after hitting iceberg and sinking |
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The cruise ship MS Explorer (formerly the MS Lindblad Explorer) which struck an iceberg in Bransfield Strait off King George Island (1127 kms south of Cape Horn) was due to visit Tristan da Cunha in December 2008 and has visited the island on several occasions previously. The collision occurred at 5.24 GMT on Friday 23rd November 2007 (around midnight on the ship), and resulted in the ship being abandoned by its 154 passengers and crew after the iceberg knocked a 10 x 25 cm sized hole in the hull. It later sank. |
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Despite enduring air temperatures of -5 celsius and below freezing sea temperatures, the ship's company were all rescued from 4 life boats and 8 zodiacs by the Norwegian cruise ship Nordnorge. They were wet and cold when they came aboard, but were wearing thermal suits, and were calm and not scared, despite the amount of time they had been at sea. They were in a good condition, were not suffering from hypothermia and were given warm drinks and hot food as they arrived on board. It is reported the 24 British passengers had paid more than £4,000 each for their adventure in the Antarctic Ocean. It is understood they kept their spirits up by telling Titanic jokes as they drifted for hours in icy waters before being rescued. |
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This picture of the MS Explorer off Tristan da Cunha appeared in the March 1998 Tristan da Cunha Newsletter. |
Tristan da Cunha and the ExplorerThe MS Explorer visited Tristan on Christmas Day 1976 when passengers were all guests in Islanders' homes for a traditional island Christmas Dinner. She returned in October 1996 when it is believed this picture was taken. The temperate Tristan da Cunha (37 degrees South) is situated well north of the 45 degrees S limit of drifting ice in the South Atlantic Ocean. |
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About MS Explorer The 2,398-tonne Explorer, the “little red ship” famed as the first cruise ship designed specially for the early Antarctic tourist industry, was built in 1969 in a Finnish shipyard by the pioneering tour operator Lars-Eric Lindblad, and was previously know as the Lindblad Explorer. Equipped with an ice-resistant double hull, she was the first passenger ship to travel unescorted through the Northwest Passage and was billed by GAP Adventures as “the go-anywhere ship for the go-anywhere traveller”. The Explorer had headed south for the Antarctic Peninsula to explore the Southern Shetland Islands and cruise through fields of floating ice on a cruise publicised as the 'Spirit of Shackleton'. May the MS Explorer Rest in Peace after her final and fateful journey. |
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Viking Bay crewman's life-saving operationThe vessel Viking Bay landed a seriously ill Spanish crewman on Thursday 8th November 2007 See Hospital News for the full story. |
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Cha-Lee arrives home safely
Cha-Lee and crew arrived back in Cape Town at about 1 30pm on Monday 5th November. All are well and happy to be home.
The damaged catamaran Cha-Lee left Tristan da Cunha on Saturday 27th October after a 13 day Tristan stop-over (see details and photographs below). The catamaran's departure was delayed until fuel tanks could be unloaded from the fishing vessel MV Edinburgh, which arrived from Cape Town on Friday 26th October for an extended fishing voyage round the outer islands of Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough.
HMS Southampton's Tristan Visit on 30th October 2007
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Left : HMS Southampton (front) and RFA Gold Rover at the Tristan anchorage Right : RFA Gold Rover from above the fishing factory. |
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Report from Tristan Administrator David MorleyHMS Southampton and RFA Gold Rover arrived at Tristan at 0830 on Tuesday 30 October. Sadly it was an extremely wet and overcast day and the new arrivals were unable to see the island at its best. Nevertheless, the ships disembarked a substantial number of visitors throughout the day [must have been over a hundred but we never counted], as the Government and Factory barge crews combined forces to offer a shuttle service between ships and harbour. The visitors explored the settlement, shopped at the Island Store, Post Office and Handicraft Shop and visited the Museum until they were able to get out of the rain at the Administrator's Reception which started at 1000 in the Prince Phillip Recreation Hall. The Pub and the cafe were also open so there was plenty of hospitality available for the, by then, rather soggy sailors. The visitors took every opportunity for conversation with those islanders who attended the Reception. They proved a friendly bunch, and everyone on Tristan enjoyed their company. After lunch, Commander Richard Morris, Southampton skipper, heli-d in for a visit and he and David Morley took the opportunity to cheer on their respective sides during a rather damp soccer match. Sadly for the islanders, the Southampton side proved to be the better team on the day. Last return shuttle departed at 1700, by which time the rain was again lashing down. In a subsequent e-mail to David Morley, Commander Morris thanked the island for its warm hospitality and confirmed how much he and his Company had enjoyed their visit. The island will not see Southampton again as she is likely to be de-commissioned upon completion of her current voyage. |
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Photo Left: Left to Right: Commander of the HMS Southampton Richard Morris, Tristan Administrator David Morley, Father Chris Brown Photo Right: Commander Richard Morris on board HMS Southampton with cliffs, Settlement and 1961 lava flow in the background |
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| Photographs from David Morley | ||
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Pictures of the HMS Southampton v Tristan da Cunha Football Match held on 30th October |
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Left : Helicopter from HMS Southampton landing on the American Fence field with the 1961 lava flow and a cloudy Big Point in the background. Right: They went that way! |
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Yacht Cha-Lee's extended Tristan stop-over |
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On the following day (Tuesday 16th October) the Cha-Lee was photographed without its mast which was lost in a Force 12 gale on Monday night! So the yacht will be staying on to await some empty fuel containers on the Edinburgh (due to arrive back from Cape Town on 26th October) when it will fill these with up to 3000 litres of diesel from the factory and return to Cape Town under engine power at about 6 knots without use of sail. |
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The picture left shows the RIB being launched to undertake an emergency fuel supply run. Cha-Lee's crew are reported to be in good spirits (buoyed by South Africa's rugby world cup win) and are being treated to traditional Tristan hospitality. Photographs and report from Tristan Administrator David Morley (with additional notes from Claire Volkwyn) and updated on 28th October. The incident illustrates why visiting yacht crews are not allowed ashore overnight as conditions change so rapidly around the island. Only small flat-bottomed craft (like the RIB shown left) can navigate the shallow Calshot Harbour, so yachts cannot seek a safe haven there. |
SA Agulhas' Schedule
SA Agulhas Departed Cape Town at 14.00 on Thursday 6th September for its annual relief voyage to Gough Island via Tristan da Cunha. It arrived off Tristan at around 1200 on Wednesday 12th September, and after a short offloading period departed Tristan da Cunha anchorage for Gough Island in deteriorating weather on Thursday 13th September. SA Agulhas returned to Tristan on 3rd October to continue off-loading cargo, loading passengers and departing at 11.00 on Thursday 4th October. ETA Cape Town is 09.00 on Wednesday 10th October.
See also Agulhas Emergency for news of the critical incident aboard SA Agulhas during her Tristan Islands voyage during which a crew member died.
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Photograph from Claire Volkwyn. |
Company Fishing Vessels meet at Tristan anchorageBoth Ovenstones vessels were at the Tristan anchorage on Friday 29th September as MV Kelso arrived from Cape Town for off loading on a cargo trip and MV Edinburgh returned to the Tristan factory for back-loading during her extended Big Season fishing trip. With the introduction of strict fishing quotas, and better managed crawfishing systems, there are never two vessels fishing the outer islands, as in the past, so this site is less frequent. |
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SA AgulhasDeparted Tristan da Cunha anchorage on Thursday 13th September and is due back around 4/5 October to continue off-loading cargo prior to departure for Cape Town scheduled for Monday 8th October. Meanwhile the ship is busy with the Gough Island South African Meteorological Station change-over and sea-based research activities. Outgoing Administrator Mike Hentley and his wife Janice have joined the Agulhas on the first leg of their return to the UK. Photograph of the SA Agulhas at anchor during offloading at Tristan on 12th September from Claire Volkwyn. |
Fishing Vessel seeks help from TristanOn Saturday 8th September, Falmouth Coastguard informed Tristan Radio that the fishing vessel Alcyon was in trouble at position 31° 29S, 04° 03W. Alcyon had picked up a trawl net in her propeller during the night, which stopped the main engine despite being over 1,300HP. Another vessel the Hemeferio Sul fishing at position 30° 46S, 04° 44E was called to its aid and took the vessel under tow to Tristan as it was the nearest place for assistance approximately 500 miles away. |
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The two vessels arrived at Tristan on Sunday the 16th September, however bad weather conditions prevented any contact until Tuesday the 18 September. The vessels were called in to make leeway and the small police rib coxed by Mark Swain and crewed by Trevor Glass and Rodney Green (accompanied by divers Simon and James Glass) proceeded to the vessel. James and Trevor boarded the vessel three miles off the settlement to check the vessel's papers and directed the vessel around the corner to the lee of the island, as there was a heavy swell running on the settlement anchorage. The anchorage at the Rookery was found not to be perfect, but it was the only possible place on the day, and we knew according to the weather forecast that conditions would be bad again tomorrow. After anchoring the Hemeferio Sul, the rib returned to the Settlement to collect the diving gear, and proceeded back to the Alcyon. The Captain showed us pictures on the computer of the trawl net that was caught in the propeller, and reported that yesterday a large amount had come loose from the propeller. The divers tipped off the Wave Dancer for a look, although cautious of the heavy swell and surge from the vessel, being on a towline from the Hemeferio Sul on anchor. Simon dropped down behind the vessel and found that there was no net left attached to the propeller, the comments from the captain was that it was possible that it had chaffed through during towing, and had come off the day before. However, the Chief Engineer reported that there was still a very bad vibration on the main engine, when he increased over a certain speed, and suspected that damage had been done to the shaft or prop when the net went into the propeller. The only solution now was for the vessel to head for dry dock in Cape Town or Uruguay, nine to fourteen days away respectively. The fishing logbooks were in order and the freezers were found to be holding Swordfish, Tuna, Sharks, etc. The rib then returned to the settlement around 4:30pm and the vessels departed. Photographs and Report from James Glass |
| The stricken fishing vessel Alcyon Photo : James Glass |
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| The fishing vessel Hemeferio Sul which came to Alycon's aid (Photo: James Glass) | |
SA Agulhas Report on the hectic Agulhas arrival -Wednesday 12th September Unfortunately not all cargo could be offloaded that day, and inevitably the weather deteriorated overnight. Come Thursday morning it was too rough to complete unloading so the Agulhas departed for Gough at 0930. But at least the island got all its fresh and frozen food supplies off, as well as some vehicles (including a replacement bus and a new Land rover for the new Admin!). The crated cargo will hopefully be unloaded during the Agulhas' return visit next month.
Due to the deteriorating weather Mike and Janice Hentley were obliged to board the Agulhas a few hours after the Morleys landed, so David's handover was a brief one! He was sworn in that afternoon, in the Council Chambers and Governor Mike Clancy has formally confirmed David's appointment.
Later on, David and Jacki received a typically warm island welcome at a reception on Thursday evening hosted by Chief Islander Conrad Glass at the Prince Philip Hall. Catering was managed by Atlantic Fresh - as usual of a superb standard - and the Morleys were able to taste their first local crayfish - reportedly a very enjoyable experience. In a short speech David thanked the islanders for their friendly welcome, confirmed how pleased Jacki and he were to have finally arrived and looked forward to living and working with the community.
Following the reception a dance was held with DJ'ing by Dion Green.
Other Agulhas passengers include : See also further details about David Morley on the Government News and Administrator's Page |
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MV Edinburgh arrives at last MV Edinburgh eventually left Cape Town six days late on Monday 20th August for her delayed extended fishing trip to the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Expected arrival at the Edinburgh anchorage was Sunday 26th August after a normal six days' sailing. However heavy seas meant the ship finally arrived at Tristan on Tuesday 28th, but continuing bad weather meant sheltering off Inaccessible Island overnight. With conditions moderating slightly on Wednesday, the vessel returned to Tristan where the local barges went out to bring the passengers ashore. Janice Hentley's photograph left shows the barge 'Don B' with Ken Green at the helm entering the harbour. |
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MV Edinburgh's Delayed Winter Trip MV Edinburgh arrived on Friday 30th June after a delayed and bumpy crossing lasting nine days, instead of the normal six, slowed by strong headwinds and currents. At least the ship's arrival coincided with clear conditions to enable Janice Hentley to take this picture of a snow-capped Peak, and the local weather and good sea conditions allowed passengers to disembark and the fresh fruit & veg to be unloaded.
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Delayed MV Edinburgh Trip : ETA Tristan da Cunha 29th May ETD Tristan da Cunha 2nd June |
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Monday 9th April Wet & windy weather over the holiday weekend with blustery westerlies meant too much swell to use the harbour or anchorage. But the weather moderated on Easter Monday and both the Europa and visiting yacht Finisterre, which have been sheltering off Halfway beach near Sandy Point since arriving on Saturday, came round to the anchorage on Sunday evening and are putting passengers ashore during Monday morning. Europa has 34 passengers & 15 crew, and the yacht has a crew of 2 (one German, one Spanish). Photo from Thierry Assef shows Europa and Finisterre an anchor off Tristan on 9th April. See also Cruise Ships Page. |
| Professor Molchanov cruise ship visit 21-24 March 2007
The Professor Molchanov (Master: Engeny Baturkin) - a regular visitor to Tristan waters - arrived at Tristan at 0845 on Thursday 22 March. In a reverse of the call earlier this week by the NG Endeavour - when passengers Mgr Michael McPartland remained on Tristan for a stay with the St Joseph's Church catholic community, the Professor Molchanov is sailing with two additional passengers. Chief Islander's son Leon Glass, accompanied by Frank Swain, are both travelling with the ship as far as Ascension Island, where they will transfer for a flight to the Falklands on a short-term scholarship attachment.
See our Cruise Ship News Page for more information on the Professor's visit |
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| MS National Geographic's delayed visit on 19th March 2007 The first 2007 cruise ship visit was delayed by rough seas and stays for only one day. See Cruise Ships Page for the full story. |
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| Edited email extracts from Joel Marc aboard SY Marianne en route from Tristan to Cape Town on 25th February 2007 to tristandc.com: Marc had visited in January 2001, coming from South Georgia, en route for Cape Town on his former yacht SAVANNAH. Conrad Glass helped the crew to discover the Island. He remembers collecting fresh eggs from Conrad's mum and one of his crew discovered a treasure in the supermarket: lots of cans of the best Navy Cut tobacco remaining after the death of the old pipe smoker Islander! This time there were three others on board: Louis Daron, Charles Debel (from Cape Town) and Martin Raeburn, from London. All of them were very pleased to discover Tristan and Louis spent a night on land. Martin wished to spend the night ashore but the sea was very rolly and he didn't go because of his collar bone broken during the trip caused as he fell down from his berth! The doctor made a perfect X-Ray examination (and was deeply afraid looking at his bone broken in 3 parts!) Thank you again for your warm welcome. We are at the position: 36°36S and 00°15 W this day the 25th February 2007. Kind regards from the sailing Yacht MARIANNE Joel MARC Joel is a citizen of New Caledonia, a small island in the Coral Sea in the South Pacific. |
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SY Marianne's emergency visit The sailing yacht Marianne anchored at Tristan early on Tuesday 20th February following a request for medical assistance the previous day. Despite an overcast sky with light rain and a blustery south-west wind a team managed to get the crew ashore so that Dr Carel could check out a suspected broken clavicle injury to one of the four sailors. Their visit was extended overnight, with one crew member enjoying traditional Tristan hospitality ashore. The crew - Martin, Joel, Charles and Louis -had last visited Argentina, and they departed this evening of Wednesday 21st February en route to Cape Town. They kindly donated a cricket ball to the Island Community, so we will soon be planning a tour of the West Indies, but not inclusion in the forthcoming World Cup! Unfortunately MCC rules prevented a 4-a side international cricket match. |
| Photo showing SY Marianne at anchor on 21st Feb. with MV Edinburgh (due to depart for Cape Town on Friday 23rd February) from Janice Hentley. | |
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Visit of SY Discoverer SY Discoverer, with 14 mixed UK Armed Forces personnel as crew on a training cruise from Rio to Cape Town, called at Tristan for the day on Saturday 17 February. Picture taken by Janice Hentley shows the yacht moving towards the anchorage on arrival. |
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Visit of SY Vortex Photograph from Janice Hentley of the SY Vortex which called at Tristan on an overcast Saturday 10th February en route from the Canaries to Cape Town. Skipper Sean Collins and crew Nic Mittlemeyer had spent more time than planned on engine power, and called at Tristan to refuel and to top up with supplies since their journey was taking longer than expected. They hope to be home in Cape Town by the end of the month. |
| MV Edinburgh departed on 28th January en route for Cape Town via Gough Island to drop off Tristan Conservation Officer Simon Glass and his colleague Matthew Green who will be joining a team continuing to eradicate sagina grass and study the Gough colony of the Tristan Albatross. Other passengers included Dr Joerg Jaschinski and his family. |
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| Revised Edinburgh Schedule A revised schedule for MV Edinburgh was announced on 24th January by Ovenstones Ltd., and is published on our Shipping Page where there is a regularly updated schedule and information on passenger fares. The new schedule takes into account the extra charter of MV Edinburgh in January and its knock-on effect on subsequent trips. The next trip departs Cape Town on 6th February and is extended to carry out a fishing survey as part of the long term management plan to ensure future fish stocks. |
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| MV Edinburgh arrived on Friday 19th January on a special charter from the oil rig salvage company Titan. It proceeded direct to Trypot Bay to transfer fuel to the tug. Passengers were transferred from MV Edinburgh to the island's rescue boat Atlantic Dawn and one of the salvage rug's RIBs, arriving at the Settlement later in the afternoon. |
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| News of Cruise Liner Visits have been moved to a new page in the visits section : see Cruise Liner Visits |
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Thirsty work as Kelso supports Oil Rig Salvage Operation The MFV Kelso, currently on charter to support the operations to salvage the stranded oil rig, is photographed by Janice Hentley from The Residency garden as she came up to the Settlement on Wednesday 10 January to replenish her water tanks. It was probably the availability of pure water, emerging from a spring at the base of the cliffs, which persuaded people to first attempt to live, then thrive on this remote shelf on the slopes of the Tristan Volcano. Provision of fresh water to ships was the mainstay of Tristan's early barter economy, and the continuing flow of the Big Watron after the 1961 volcanic eruption (only a few metres further east) was a key factor is making a re-settlement of Islanders feasible. |
| MV Edinburgh's extra new year trip Titan have arranged a charter of MV Edinburgh planned to leave Cape Town on 12th January to deliver further essential supplies for the oil rig mission. An additional sailing will be on 31st January, replacing the scheduled 18th January sailing. Check out the revised time-table on Shipping Schedule Page and details of the Oil Rig Salvage Mission on the News of PXXI dedicated oil rig news page. |
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