MV Baltic Trader departs at last - MV Glory offloading over Christmas

22nd December Shipping Update

Report from Cynthia Green and Sean Burns

MV Baltic Trader
Photo of MV Baltic Trader from Janine Lavarello

Offloading resumed again at last on Tuesday 20th December from both the MV Baltic Trader and MV Glory, despite a fairly strong wind. Unloading continued on 21st, planned as Break Up Day, but this work took priority. Backloading of MV Baltic Trader commenced on Thursday 22nd December and the ship departed for Cape Town during the afternoon. The only passenger aboard was French visitor, Richard Pak, who will be spending Christmas en route to Cape Town. Hopefully the ship will arrive before the new year. MV Baltic Trader's current trip started way back on 20th November, reaching Tristan 10 days later on 30th November, a frustratingly long period waiting for safe conditions to offload meant the vessel then spent a further 22 days around the island, and will now take 7-10 days to return to South Africa.

This is the MV Baltic Trader's last scheduled return trip to Tristan da Cunha. Whilst the vessel has been reliable it has been by far the slowest ship used for passengers and freight and so the arrival of the new ship MV Geo-Searcher is eagerly awaited by the island community.

MV Glory
Photo of MV Glory from Kelly Burns

Wind conditions and the position of the ship has made offloading of MV Glory more problematic that the Baltic Trader, nevertheless unloading of crucial materials for the new Camogli Healthcare Centre was proceded for three days up to 22nd December.

Depending on the weather a further 2-4 days are needed to offload MV Glory and if needed this will continue even on Christmas Day as all just want to get it all over with so they can relax and enjoy their annual break.

MV Glory loaded pre-fabricated modules for the new Healthcare Centre in Malmö Sweden in September and proceeded to Poole in Dorset where Galliford Try loaded further plant. The ship sailed from the UK on 12th October and arrived at Tristan on 4th November. Since then off-loading has been very slow as poor sea conditions have meant long periods when the ship has lain idle as Clashot Harbour has been closed. So 41 days unloading at Tristan....and still counting. A very expensive delay compounded by needing extra fuel transferred from MV Baltic Trader early in December.