Reports of vessels visiting Tristan da Cunha, and voyages to and from the island during 2011.

Fairmount Fuji another Christmas Visitor

The survey vessel Fairmount Fuji did work around Nightingale and Inaccessible Islands over the Christmas period, monitoring the MS Oliva wreck and subsequent environmental impact.

Sean Burns' photograph shows the vessel off Nightingale Island on 27th December with Middle and Stoltenhoff Islands behind.

See MS Oliva Impact Page for full story

Two cruise ships for Christmas 2011
Christmas 2011 was a busy holiday for Tristan Islanders as the Noble Caledonia cruise liner Island Sky arrived on 23rd December for a three day stay and she was joined on Christmas Day by the German cruise ship Hanseatic making a welcome return to the island. See our separate Island Sky page for a full report and pictures of the Island Sky visit.
Photos show:
Left; close-up of MS Island Sky; Centre Island Sky and Hanseatic off Tristan on Christmas Day; Right close-up of Hanseatic.

Photo of Yachts Mar Mostro (left) and Stena (right) on 29th November from Sean Burns

Tina Glass reports that on Tuesday 29th November the yacht Setna arrived at 11.00 en route from Uruguay
to Cape Town for a short Tristan visit. So Tristan then had two yachts anchored off shore.
'Setna' means the goddess of the Eskimos. The crew consists of one German and two Austrian.

Yacht Setna's Visit

Photos from Iris Green
show Setna and Mars Mostro yachts anchored off Tristan
on 29th November

Further Report from Erik McKenzie on SV Setna

SV Setna arrived here unexpectedly and had to be guided carefully by radio to her anchorage as she was sailing right into the centre of the whale "drama" (see Conservation News Page). It is a family named Kreutz from Germany/Austria - Hans, Anneliese and son Daniel en route to Cape Town (Hout Bay) from South America.

They were told not to bother going to Tristan by a friend, as he has sailed past here 5 times over the years and could never get close due to bad weather. They decided to run north from their course down close to the roaring forties to see if they would have better luck. As it happens they arrived in beautiful, flat conditions and were able to spend a couple of hours ashore.

They did a quick a factory tour and we had just finished processing cooked lobster so they were in luck there as well - loved the fresh lobster. After that we were able to get them around the island and show them a little bit of what the settlement and patches, Bluff etc look like. They spent the night on anchor and then left in good weather at around

10.00 on 30th November. If only all the passing yachts had such luck.

Yacht Mar Mostro Puma crew
at Tristan
after losing their mast in ocean race

Switch to our separate Mar Mostro Page
for the latest news and pictures

Visit of HMS Clyde on 28th October

Report from Sean Burns and Tina Glass

Pictures from Tina Glass and Marina Burns
Crew coming ashore
Administrator Sean Burns welcomes Captain, Lt Cdr Catherine Jordan RN
Lt Cdr Catherine Jordan meeting Island Councillor and Post Office Head Iris Green

HMS Clyde visited Tristan for the first time on 28 th October en route from the Falkland Islands to Simon’s Town in South Africa. It was a good day with glorious weather. The first barge went off to the ship at 9am and bought ashore her Captain, Lt Cdr Catherine Jordan RN and the first party of crew members.

At 10.30am a party of ship’s crew were invited to join the ceremony of unveiling the plaque at the top of the 1961 volcano to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the October eruption. Administrator Sean Burns welcomed HMS Clyde’s crew, introduced the event and also read out a message from Peter Wheeler who was the Administrator on the island at the time of the eruption. (See full text on our 50th Anniversary 1961-3 Book Page). The Captain (Lt Cdr Catherine Jordan) also made a speech. This event was followed by a lunch at The Residency hosted by Administrator Sean Burns and his wife Marina and attended by crew members, expatriates working on Tristan and Island Councillors and their partners.

Other crew members took part in a guided tour of the 1961 volcano, organised by Tina and Iris and led by Joseph and played a round of golf organised by Simon Glass. At 1.45pm the first crew party returned to the ship to relieve the others who came ashore for a game of football and stretch their legs with another guided hike. The football match was arranged between a joint island/ship's team and a ship's team. The joint Islanders – Crew team won 3-2 with Shane Green scoring at least two (possibly three goals!). Unfortunately Tristan Tigers have yet to play an away fixture!

After the football match everyone returned to the Post Office and Tourism Centre where refreshments were served. The crew from HMS Clyde presented the island football team with a plaque of appreciation. The museum and Post Office were open with Lillie, Natasha, Iris, Tina and Paula all helping. Sammy and Lorraine made sure they received their unique immigration stamps. In the end neither the Albatross Bar or cafe were opened as planned as the crew were 'dry' on this ship as they were on stand-by (hence they could only come ashore in two defined groups). Duncan, Colin, Clifton and John, who helped man the barge (assisted by Stan and Jack ashore), set some traps and were able to give the ship a special send-off treat of some Tristan lobster! At 5pm all were at the harbour to go back to the ship following a successful and enjoyable first visit.

Views of HMS Clyde's crew and others walking up to and gathered on the 1961 lava flow
Views of the plaque unveiled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the October 1961 volcanic eruption
with crew members and Islanders present
Below: Afternoon football match (note the new alignment of the pitch across the slope!) and
scenes of the final barge returning HMS Clyde's crew to their ship

Tristan prepares for visit of HMS Clyde on 28th October

In a Public Notice issued on 26th October Administrator Sean Burns heralds the visit :

I am pleased to inform everyone that HMS Clyde will be stopping at Tristan this Friday on her way to the Falklands. She arrives at 08.30 and will depart at 17.00.

All of the crew are hoping to come ashore. The Tourism Department has arranged a number of events. The pub, café and the museum will all be open and there will be ‘heritage tours’, golf and various walks on offer. The Island football team are ready to take on the ship’s company in a match kicking off at 14.00. Please come along and lend your support!

At 11.00 I have asked the ship’s Captain and crew to join us at the top of the volcano where we will have a small ceremony to unveil the plaque that was recently placed to commemorate the 50 years since the eruption of the volcano and the evacuation of the Island. All are welcome to join us.

HMS Clyde is the Royal Navy’s latest Offshore Patrol Vessel, equipped with a helicopter, and is the Falkland Islands Protection Vessel (FIPV). Launched in 2006, she was the first ship to be built and launched in Portsmouth since 1967. HMS Clyde is now permanently deployed to the South Atlantic. This ship is the fourth vessel to bear the name HMS Clyde.

I know the community look forward to welcoming the crew ashore.

We aim to publish pictures and a report of HMS Clyde's Visit when received.

Busy loading day postpones volcano ceremony
A ceremony was to held on Monday 10th October to commemorate the evacuation of Islanders from Tristan on this day in 1961, following the volcanic eruption on 9th October, but, as often happens on Tristan, a combination of awful weather and concentration by the workforce on loading both MV Baltic Trader and MV Edinburgh for their return journeys to Cape Town, has postponed the event until later this week. See our separate 50th Anniversary of 1961-3 Events and Book Project Page
Au Revoir SA Agulhas
SA Agulhas departed Tristan en route for Cape Town on her final voyage on Friday 7th October at noon. SA Agulhas II should be ready to complete the 2012 Tristan - Gough trip and dates have just been announced and can be found,a long with Ovenstone sailings on our separate Shipping Page.

Baltic Trader arrival
MV Baltic Trader arrived from Cape Town on Sunday 2nd October on the first of three scheduled 2011/12 trips when MV Edinburgh is engaged in extended fishing trips. In the next few days SA Agulhas is scheduled to depart for Cape Town for the last time, closely followed by MV Baltic Trader and a week later by MV Edinburgh.

SA Agulhas' Final Tristan Voyage
SA Agulhas arrived from Cape Town for the last time on Wednesday 14th September, passengers and mail being unloaded by helicopter onto the American Fence field in front of St Mary's School during the afternoon. Amongst the passengers were Administrator Sean Burns and his wife Marina, returning to begin their second year on Tristan. Poor weather prevented any off-loading of cargo (including passengers' luggage until Saturday 17th September.

Photos from Tina Glass
of the SA Agulhas'
final arrival and off-loading
of passengers on 14th September

See also
Cruise Ship visits 2011/12
for news of the
activities arranged for Agulhas guests

Last SA Agulhas Tristan Voyage

SA Agulhas left Cape Town on 8th September for her last Tristan - Gough voyage. Due to arrive Tristan on 13th September, the ship then goes on to Gough for the annual South African station change-over, returning to Tristan for a scheduled 6th October - 13th October return voyage. Built in 1977, the ship has been a wonderful asset to Tristan da Cunha, providing reliable passage for about 30 passengers every spring with the advantage of a helicopter to enable fast unloading of passengers even when Calshot Harbour is closed.
The February 2012 Newsletter will contain a feature on SA Agulhas.

Farewell Agulhas – Welcome Agulhas II

The replacement South African Government Antarctic Supply Ship,
named SA Agulhas II, was launched in June this year in Finland.
The new ship is longer than the present ship at 134 metres
and is equipped to carry more crew (44) and passengers (100).
Sea trials will be held in January 2012 and the ship will be delivered in April 2012, ready for the 2012 Tristan voyage.

MV Edinburgh's August Trip
 MV Edinburgh left Cape Town for its first extended fishing trip on Saturday 20th August, expecting to unload on Tristan Sunday 28th August. After unloading at Tristan the ship will head for the outer island fishing grounds. The Nightingale Island fishery remains closed pending tests on water and fish quality following the wreck of MS Oliva in March 2011. So MV Edinburgh will concentrate on fishing Gough and Inaccessible islands pending the Nightingale fishery re-opening.
Delayed July MV Edinburgh trip
The fishing vessel MV Edinburgh usually makes six return voyages from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha. In the fishing season these are extended to enable the ship to fish the outer islands. From April - July they are return passenger (capacity 12) and freight services. The June / July trip was scheduled to arrive on Tristan on 5th July and return to Cape Town on 12th July.
In the event the ship arrived on 7th July but poor weather prevented cargo being unloaded until 13th July and left for it's return trip to Cape Town only on 20th July.
Katrine Herrian was one of the unfortunate passengers who spent 12 days aboard MV Edinburgh, five on them holed up in Tristan's lee as gales blew around the harbour. She got ashore on Monday 12th July.
This is a stark reminder to would-be visitors to Tristan to ensure they have flexible travel arrangements!
MS Oliva Disaster Shipping News
During the emergency following the wreck of MS Oliva there was an unusual number of extra shipping activity. This is chronicled in our separate MS Oliva Section and in the August Tristan da Cunha Newsletter.

Historical event as five ships anchor at Tristan
It is believed this may be the first time in living memory,
possibly since the early 19th Century
when Tristan was on the main sailing route across the South Atlantic
and many American Whalers visited that five ships were at anchor off Tristan.

Katrine Herian took this remarkable picture on 12th April 2011
Left to right:
Tug Singapore, MV Baltic Trader, MV Edinburgh, The Ivan Papanin which carries a helicopter to help with the MS oliva clear-up and the new cruise ship MS Plancius which is the subject of a new stamp issue to be shortly announced.

Shipping Schedule Update
Ovenstones have made a significant change to the published 2010 shipping schedule arising from MV Edinburgh's short return January / February trip. MV Edinburgh sailed on 1st March to begin its postponed extended fishing trip and is now due to return on 4th May. As a result the planned April/May trip is cancelled. See the separate Shipping Page for details of the current schedule, and the Fishing News Page for details of the fishing operation.

MV Edinburgh and MV Baltic Trader arrive on 4th February

Arriving half an hour before MV Baltic Trader, despite leaving Cape Town two days later, passengers came ashore from MV Edinburgh on the morning of Saturday 4th February. Offloading of cargo from the Edinburgh was completed by afternoon and then , very unusually passengers boarded on Sunday 5th as the ship sailed for Cape Town via Gough Island. The ship will then leave again soon afterwards to commence the last extended fishing trip of the season. This will add a return trip from Cape Town - Tristan which will be confirmed on our shipping schedule page as soon as possible.

Leaving on MV Edinburgh were Dean Repetto, Education Adviser Jim Kerr, Marion Green, Education Officer and former Chief Islander Anne Green and her husband Joseph Green. The group will be investigating opportunities for 14-16 education for Tristan pupils in Cape Town.

Latest Harbour Repairs Start

Community alarm as beer supplies left in Cape Town

Offloading of harbour equipment from MV Baltic Trader began on 4th February morning and it is expected to take approximately 20-25 days after which the ship will return to Cape Town to load for the second DfID charter to support Calshot Harbour repairs. We will publish an on-going update of this work on a separate website page.

Perhaps the big story (as Tristan enjoys a warm summer) is not the arrival of the equipment or contractors but that neither the MV Edinburgh or MV Baltic Trader had Tristan's beer order on board as it got left behind. There is none in the shop or pub so there will be no beer on Tristan until the Edinburgh returns, unless some ship presently in the South Atlantic fancies a mercy mission?
Historic Royal visits as Queen Mary 2 and RMS St Helena
are both at Tristan on 1st February 2011


Three photos from James Glass and one below right from Sean Burns show QM2 sailing off Tristan and then coming alongside the RMS St Helena

Unfortunately QM2 enjoyed
only fleeting glimpses
of the 6760 feet high
Queen Mary's Peak
at the summit of Tristan da Cunha.

At the time of her construction in 2003 Queen Mary 2 was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built, and at 151,400 tonnes was also the largest. Larger cruise ships have since been built, however, Queen Mary 2 remains the largest ocean liner as opposed to cruise ship ever built.

Close encounter with Queen Mary 2

Unfortunately the ship was unable to unload passengers or allow the Tristan Post Office to come aboard, but gifts were exchanged and contacts made.

Picture left taken by QM2 passenger David Cox from the deck looking down on the fisheries patrol vessel as it drew alongside to exchange gifts.

We give further details of this and a message from Captain Paul Wright on our separate Cruise Ship Page

RMS St Helena

Two Royal ships compared

Queen Mary II

1990

Date in service

2004

6767
Gross weight in tonnes
151,400
105
Length in metres
345
14.5
Maximum speed in knots
28
128
Guest / Passenger Capacity
2520
56
Officers and crew
1253

RMS St Helena
makes a welcome return after a five year absence

The RMS St Helena arrival on Sunday 30th January 2011 had been eagerly awaited on Tristan. The ship (starting Voyage 154) left Cape Town on 25th January and had a three-night stopover at Tristan until Wednesday 2nd February, sailing on to St Helena for a two-night stay from 6th-8th and then on the final leg of the triangular journey to Cape Town, arriving back on 13th February.

Principal of the passengers is His Excellency Governor Andrew Gurr who departed St Helena aboard the RMS on 18th January 2011 for his first visit to Tristan da Cunha. The last visit by a Governor was by Mike Clancy in February 2006.

Also aboard the RMS is Tristan Association President and Chairman Michael Swales, returning for another visit in a remarkable involvement with Tristan da Cunha which started when he was a member of the Gough Island Scientific Survey which arrived on Tristan in September 1955. Michael will be presenting a new organ to St Mary's Church on behalf of Association members.

Islanders have been busy preparing for this important visit, and passengers had the unusual opportunity to stay overnight ashore to enjoy the legendary island hospitality.

See the separate Governor's Page for more details of the trip.
Sean Burns' Photo of the RMS St Helena at anchor off Tristan on 1st February 2011


Ron Burn's Photo of RMS St Helena
off Tristan in February 2006
during the Quincentenary Cruise
- see the separate RMSQ5 Cruise Page
for photos and report.

MV Aliança Maua
seeks Tristan
medical assistance

On 7th January 2011
an injured seaman
was brought ashore for treatment
from the container ship Aliança Maua believed to be en route
from Brazil to South Africa.

Photos from Sean Burns show: the ship from the Residency garden; the launch bringing the seaman ashore.

RFA's visit gives Tristan Tigers
an early 2011 fixture

Pictures from Sean Burns show left the 7510 tonne RFA Black Rover at anchor and right the Tristan Tigers football team on their way to a 9-0 win over the ship's football team.

RFA Black Rover's Surprise January Visit
We had a surprised call from the RFA Black Rover on the 7th January 2011. Although the community was still on their Christmas vacation everyone turned out to ensure she had a great visit. Weather was on our side and Ship's Company disembarked from 8.30am onwards, according to shifts. It was a great day where visitors enjoyed a game of football, the ship’s football team against the Tristan Tigers, with the island team winning 9 – 0, a game of Golf, hiking at leisure around the village visiting all the venues that were opened, especially the Post Office & Tourism Centre and Albatross Bar. Sent ashore for the Island children were some gifts, kindly donated by everyone on board, it was like Christmas all over again. The ship departed at 6pm for the Falkland Islands and the community enjoyed their last few days of holidays before returning back to work on Monday 10th January.
Report from Dawn Repetto
Sean Burn's photos show;
Captain Steve Norris
with Dawn Repetto and Iris Green;
Post Office staff
Donna Green & Natasha Glass
who served crew members that day.
The Tristan team has the advantage of playing all its games at home on the picturesque but sloping and uneven American Fence field!