MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:

Battle Day - 90 years on; Berthing policy follows tanker's grounding; FOGL's area grows; Sex case: not guilty pleas; Three cruisers this week.

Picture: In bright summer sun, His Excellency the Governor and his wife, Mr and Mrs Howard Pearce, chat to members of the Scouts after Wednesday's Battle Day parade. The event commemorates the Battle of the Falklands ninety years ago. More on page 5.

Berthing policy follows tanker's grounding.

A POLICY has been drafted which will define the parameters for the denial of permission to berth at Stanley's port following the grounding of the tanker Centaurusin the capital's harbour. Councillor Richard Cockwell, responding to a question from his colleague Mike Summers, said the policy is being distributed to shipping companies, agents and interested parties for comment. "As soon as this Berthing Policy is agreed it will be made available to the public. It is intended that this will be within the next month." The issue of what written instructions is in place for the provision or denial of permission to pass through the harbor's entrance, better known as the Narrows, and/or dock at the Falklands Interim Port and Storage System (FIPASS) during adverse weather conditions was raised following Centaurus' grounding on November 23. The vessel is an elderly product tanker with a single fixed pitch propeller and on turning in Stanley Harbour, despite having her starboard anchor deployed, was unable to turn up into the wind. The Ports and Harbors Information Brochure, which is published annually and distributed to all ship masters and yachtsmen, contains instructions on harbour safety and reporting. It does not however deal specifically with provision or denial of permission to pass through the Narrows or dock at FIPASS. Councillor Cockwell reported, "The FIPASS Manager and Marine Officer have powers under the provisions of the FIPASS Ordinance 1989 to regulate shipping within FIPASS waters, which are defined as those waters within one nautical mile from FIPASS. "The Marine Officer also has certain powers within the harbors under the provisions of the Harbour Ordinance, though these are barely adequate in view of the fact that the principal Harbour Ordinance was drafted in 1902. Requirements for harbour reporting are contained in the fisheries legislation, so strictly speaking they only apply to reefers and fishing vessels." He added, "It is not wholly clear under the Ordinance as to whom the power to control berthing and unberthing is delegated to. It is intended to clarify this issue in a proposed new berthing policy." Councillor Cockwell also confirmed that the master and pilot concerned in the Centaurus incident have been interviewed and a report will be issued shortly.

FOGL's area grows.

THE government has awarded Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL) an offshore production licence for an additional 50,000 square kilometers. The licence area is adjacent to its existing licences where FOGL is in a joint venture with Hardman Resources. FOGL now has an interest in a total of 83,000 sq km. Geophysical Services Incorporated has been contracted to undertake a 2D seismic survey on FOGL's joint venture acreage and that survey will now be extended to include the new area. It is expected that the seismic survey over both the new and the joint venture areas will amount to over 10,000km of 2D seismic lines. John Armstrong, Executive Chairman of FOGL, said: "We are very pleased to have secured the offshore production licence for this additional acreage, which is intended to provide the company with opportunities to the North East of and on trend with the leads in the company's Hardman joint venture area. "FOGL now has licences covering a vast area and has by far the largest acreage of any company operating in the region."

Sex case: not guilty pleas.

A MAN who is alleged to have sexually assaulted a child has entered pleas to the three charges against him. In court yesterday, Robert William Smith pleaded not guilty to assault of a child under 13 by penetration, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally touching a child in a sexual nature. The case has been adjourned for two weeks, until Thursday, December 23. Mr Smith remains subject to strict bail conditions.

Three cruisers this week.

THE cruise ship Europais in Stanley today, carrying 202 passengers. Tomorrow it is the turn of Explorer II, carrying 208 passengers. On Wednesday, Clipper Adventurerwill visit Carcass Island and New Island. She will have approximately 100 passengers on board.