MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Direct News from Stanley

John Battle MP

John Battle MP, the minister of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs met with Mineral Resources, the junior school and Fisheries this morning. He flew to Port Howard in the afternoon and will be staying overnight to meet the residents.

Mayday for cruise ship ?Bremen'

A mayday was issued at 6.30 this morning when the cruise ship Bremen lost command of the vessel. It was said to have hit a large wave approximately 600 miles off South Georgia causing damage to the bridge. In response to the mayday, the royal research ship, The Ernest Shackleton was diverted to assist the vessel. Following the call, the Bremen is now said to have gained control and the crew is making repairs to the bridge on route. RSS Earnest Shackleton is said to be around 20 hours away and on standby to give assistance if required.

End of Three Year Stint for Dumbarton

The patrol vessel Dumbarton Castle left the Falkland Islands earlier this week following three years service. During an unofficial handover ceremony on Tuesday the vessel and her replacement the Leeds Castle were seen together in waters around East Cove. A VC10 and two tornado F3 aircraft also took part in a flyover for the two ships. The Dumbarton Castle is now en route to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil where the crew will stop over before completing the journey to the United Kingdom. The Leeds Castle a member of the Fishery Protection Squadron entered service in 1982 and like her predecessor carries between 45 and 50 crewmembers. She has also got the capacity to land and return large helicopters on her deck.

Argentina Publicly Shuns Islands

The Argentine Government has today publicly admitted that they are not interested in dialogue with the Falkland Islands Government. It is the first time such an admission has been made so openly and it came through an article in the Argentine Newspaper La Nación. The diplomat in charge of South Atlantic affairs, Susana Cerutti told the paper in response to the recent letter from Councillor Richard Cockwell regarding high seas fishing, that there was nothing to say because they only talk to Great Britain. During a press conference called by the Argentine Foreign Mini