Baltic Trader returns to Tristan service
Report from Cynthia Green
Departure from Tristan
Offloading of the Baltic Trader was completed at about midday 26th January 2021. Passengers boarded at 12.45pm and she sailed for Cape Town at 4.15pm. The outgoing passengers are: Gift Chizema, Samantha Lowe, and Rev. Margaret & Mr. Nicolaas Van den Berg.
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| Left: Rev. Margaret and her husband sit in the box with the other passengers to await being lifted by crane from the harbour onto a raft (right) for transfer to the Baltic Trader. Photos: Sally Wonner | |
Arrival at Tristan
The Baltic Trader arrived at Tristan on Sunday 10th January 2021. Passengers stayed on board as a Covid quarantine precaution until 6.30pm GMT on Thursday 14th January when they were brought ashore. Conditions were not suitable for offloading of cargo until the 18th January. The next day for offloading was on Saturday 23rd January, but there was still a bit of cargo to offload, awaiting the next suitable day.
Passengers were: Islanders David & Doreen Swain, Vera & Stephanie Glass, Barbara Glass, Renee & Dylan Green; and Occupational Therapist Kate Sherry.
Archive photo by Bernard Pronost showing the MV Baltic Trader offloading
whilst at anchor off the Tristan Settlement in November 2017.
Departure from Cape Town
MV Baltic Trader has been brought back into service by Ovenstones and departed Cape Town on 1st January 2021 on a delayed cargo and passenger trip. The vessel replaces the MFV Edinburgh, which has resumed its role as the company's main fishing vessel after the loss of the MFV Geo Searcher, wrecked off Gough Island, in October 2020.
First MFV Edinburgh Fishing Voyage of 2021
Report from Cynthia Green
Arrival at Tristan
The Edinburgh arrived on 18th January 2021 and went straight to Gough Island to collect lobster samples in the area where the Geo Searcher sank. She went to Inaccessible to drop off the flax eradication team on the afternoon of 26th January, and the two island passengers were then brought ashore at Tristan the same day.
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| Jonathan and Jane Repetto are greeted as they arrive at the harbour. Photo: Sally Wonner. | |
The delay in bringing the passengers ashore was a Covid quarantine precaution. After the fresh fruit and a couple of crates were offloaded the Edinburgh went off fishing.
Departure from Cape Town
MFV Edinburgh pictured off Tristan in 2020 by Fiona Kilpatrick
The MFV Edinburgh departed Cape Town on Monday 11th January 2021 following a refit to resume fishing around Tristan's outer islands.
Passengers on board are islanders: Jonathan & Jane Repetto; Inaccessible Flax Team: Carmen Ferreira, Jan Bradley and Warren Farish.