MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines :
Tamar in Chile for repairs; Antarctic air accident: pilot and passenger escape injury; Second flight: press reports incorrect; Cruise ships call in; Mare Harbour fireworks.

Tamar in Chile for repairs

CAMP residents will face delays in the delivery of cargo while coastal shipping vessel Tamar FI is in Punta Arenas for repairs to its damaged rudder. The vessel was damaged after it hit a sand bank near Pebble Island last week. Ian Wilkinson of Tamar's operating company Island Shipping, told Penguin News on Thursday morning that the vessel was due to arrive in Punta Arenas at 4pm and would be ready today (Friday) to assess the damage. Mr Wilkinson assured: "...all materials have been sourced and there should be no delay in commencing work." The cargo which Tamar was scheduled to collect from Punta Arenas at the end of November will now be loaded for her return to the Falklands following repairs. Mr Wilkinson said he is hopeful Tamar will be back in the Falklands in the first week of December. Penguin News spoke to a number of residents in Camp about the temporary loss of the shipping service and most seemed untroubled that they would have to wait for cargo. However a small number said they were concerned that fuel supplies might run low. Raymond Evans at Pebble Island said, "We don't have sufficient fuel to get through our shearing, but I hope other arrangements can be made." Director of Public Works, Mike Forrest, said rumours were untrue that the road building team working in the north of West Falklands would have to cease work temporarily, due to a lack of fuel. He said, "The potential fuel problem has been recognised and alternative measures are being looked at." (Mr Forrest added, however, that the team may be relocating for a few weeks to work on a track to Port Harriet. He added this would not affect the West Falklands road building programme.) Island Shipping's Ian Wilkinson commented, "I have been in touch with customers discussing fuel requirements and am confident that alternative arrangements can be made." He added, "HMS Leeds Castle has been extremely helpful with an offer to supply fuel to Bleaker Island," however, "...it was discovered that they had no way of putting cargo ashore on the Island." Some farms have had essential supplies flown out on Government Air Service ( FIGAS) aircraft. FIGAS General Manager, Fraser Wallace said he plans to, "... play it by ear and help wherever possible." He added that the air service, "...has not reached a saturation point where freight is concerned as yet, but we have to bear in mind that it is approaching the busiest time of year passenger-wise for FIGAS."

Antarctic air accident: pilot and passenger escape injury

A BRITISH Antarctic Survey (BAS) aircraft was badly damaged when it was involved in a landing accident at Rothera Research Station last week but, fortunately, the pilot and his passenger escaped injury. On Friday, November 7, the De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft was returning from a routine re-supply flight to Fossil Bluff, a remote field station situated on Alexander Island on the Antarctic Peninsula, when strong, gusting winds lifted its tail causing it to invert as it completed its landing. The pilot, Captain Anthony Tuson, who has ten years Antarctic flying experience, and the other person onboard, escaped unhurt. The aircraft is registered in the Falkland Islands. Director of Civil Aviation, Andrew Newman, said an ongoing investigation will determine what may have caused the aircraft accident. He explained the investigation process: "First of all the pilot fills out the appropriate report forms. The investigating authority, the Falklands Civil Aviation Department, has had all the aircraft's documentation impounded and copies will be taken of all the applicable documents and assessed for any contributing factors. "All other documented evidence such as weather reports, radio logs and details of conversations with the aircraft are also impounded and will be copied. Witness statements have been taken. "A preliminary report has been completed and received from the Chief Pilot of the BAS Air Unit, Captain Alan Meredith along with the pilot's report previously mentioned." "All this information will come from Antarctica and a full and detailed report will be produced by the Falklands Civil Aviation Department with appropriate advice and guidance from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)." Mr Newman said he does not feel it is necessary for him to visit Rothera to see the accident site. He said, "All the necessary actions have been carried out on my behalf by the BAS Chief Pilot and the UK AAIB have indicated that they would not consider it necessary to visit the site." He added, "It is pleasing to note that there were no injuries and the base emergency plan worked extremely well." A British Antarctic Survey spokesperson said the aircraft will be out of service for the remainder of the Antarctic field season while a full assessment of damage and repairs are carried out. "It is expected that the other three BAS Twin Otter Aircraft will be in a position to make additional flights to minimise the impact on planned field operations."

Second flight: press reports incorrect

REPORTS in the Argentine press that a second weekly LanChile flight between the Falkland Islands and Chile is "out of the question" have been refuted by an official source. Earlier this week Buenos Aires daily newspaper Clarín reported that the Argentine government denied a request from LanChile for a second flight. The paper added, "...secret negotiations had been going on for some time". However, a well-informed source in the Falklands this week told Penguin News, "Reports in the Argentine press of refusal by the Argentine government for a second flight are incorrect - no such application has been made." The Clarín report seems to confuse tourist charter flights to the Islands with the proposed second LanChile flight. Penguin News' source said, "Although there was a brief problem regarding charter flights to the Islands, it has now been resolved - at least for the current tourist season."

Cruise ships call in

THE cruise ship Explorer II, due in the Islands last week, never made it, due to a generator fault on the vessel. Passengers in Santiago, waiting to fly to the Falklands to join the ship, had to instead head home from the Chilean capital after the fault was discovered on Saga Pearl, the vessel chartered as the Explorer II. Falklands agents for Explorer II, Sulivan Shipping Services Ltd, say her other cruises will remain on schedule. Stanley is expecting the arrival of two cruise ships today (Friday), the Professor Molchanov and the Lyubar Orlova. On Monday the Akademik Ioffe will visit West Point, Saunders and possibly Carcass Islands. She will then head to Stanley on Tuesday, as will the Seven Seas Mariner. The Endeavour will be in Stanley on Thursday and Friday for a passenger exchange.

Mare Harbour fireworks

THE military has extended an invitation to the civilian community to join tonight's bonfire and fireworks at Mare Harbour. The event will start at 7.30pm with the bonfire lit at 8.30pm. The fireworks display will begin at 8.45pm. Hot and cold food will be on offer and a bar will be open.