MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Passage by paddle power; Sign up for the Falklands' first marathon; Naval escort as Ellen's trimaran passes through; Flood on BAS slip; New face at St Mary's; Tsunami appeal grows; Murrell meeting; Cruise ships this week; Fire inquiry: man ?rebailed'.

Passage by paddle power

Photo: TwoAmerican kayakers have set off from Stanley in an attempt to circumnavigate the Falkland Islands. Harry Haas from Wisconsin and John Buhrman from Alaska left Stanley Harbour at lunchtime on Tuesday. They hope to complete their circumnavigation of the Islands, in an anti-clockwise direction, within four weeks. Cable and Wireless have provided the pair with a satellite telephone for the trip.

Sign up for the Falklands' first marathon

THE Falklands' first marathon is scheduled to be held in March, with a £1,000 prize going to the first man and woman across the finish line. The March 20 Stanley Marathon is being sponsored and coordinated by Standard Chartered Bank and all proceeds from the event will go to the bank's international Seeing is Believingprogramme. The race can be run under two categories: marathon, running 26 miles, 385 yards, or relay, where three runners each cover 6.25 miles and one covers the last 7.25 miles. Runners must be aged 18 years and above. The races are open with no sub-categories based on age, experience, nationality, etc. In the individual marathon race, prizes of £1,000, £500 and £250 are respectively offered to first, second and third men and women. The team event attracts a first prize of £800, second of £400 and third of £200. The team prizes are per team, not per participant. A challenge trophy for the first Falkland Islands-born runner is to be presented by Mr Mike Summers. Proceeds will go to Seeing is Believing, a programme which aims to restore the sight of one million people. The programme has identified twelve flagship projects in Asia and Africa and the funds collected will go towards cataract operations, training eye care doctors, building training facilities and vision centres. Nick Hutton, manager of Standard Chartered Bank says the absolute cut off date for entries is Friday, March 11, however a decision as to whether the event will be staged will be made based on sufficient entries being submitted by February 4. Entry forms are available from Standard Chartered Bank.

Naval escort as Ellen's trimaran passes through

ROYAL NAVY patrol ship HMS Gloucester, under the control of Commander Russ Tuppen, yesterday met up with round the world yachtswoman Ellen McArthur as she sailed west of the Falklands Islands. Cdr Tuppen spoke with Ellen and the ship accompanied her trimaran B&Q Castorama north before returning to the Falklands. "It's good to have some company!" Ellen yesterday wrote. "She is sailing along next to me and they are running helicopter fly pasts with the crew so they can all have a close-up look."

Flood on BAS slip

A "POTENTIALLY SERIOUS" flood which occurred on board the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research vessel James Clark Rosswas successfully controlled due to the quick actions of the ship's engineering team while in the Scotia Sea, near South Georgia. The incident happened within the Main Alternator Room (MAR) of the James Clark Rosson the afternoon of January 6. Athena Dinar of BAS's UK press office said the ship's alarm system sounded and the Duty Engineer responded immediately. "Upon entering the MAR, he found that there was a high level of water beneath the engine room plates caused by the fracturing of an isolating valve." Ms Dinar said although the situation was "potentially serious", it was soon brought under control by the "exemplary action" of the Duty Engineer, the Chief Engineer and the Engineering Department. She said a rumour that 300 tonnes of water had been taken on by the vessel was untrue. Ms Dinar added, "Temporary repairs have been carried out and the options for replacing the valve are being investigated." Meanwhile the James Clark Ross is continuing with her current science cruise off South Georgia.

New face at St Mary's

THE congregation of St Mary's Catholic Church has welcomed a new priest. Father Peter Norris arrived in the Falklands on January 5, initially for a two year period. He was formerly based in North Croydon. He told Penguin News he has only been a priest since 2001, joining the priesthood after the death of his wife. Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for 18 years as a medic. He has three children and eight grandchildren - with a ninth on the way. Father Peter is also chaplain to the USS Nimitz Association, whose members have served on the United States aircraft carrier of that name.

Tsunami appeal grows

THE balance of the FalklandsTsunami Earthquake Appeal now stands at around £12,500. More money is expected to be paid in today. The total does not include £2,000 already sent overseas for the relief effort.

Murrell meeting

A MEETING of "interested parties" will be held this morning to discuss whether or not the new road to Murrell farm should be rerouted. Councillors Stephen Luxton and Richard Cockwell will attend, along with the Environmental Planning Officer and three or four of the signatories to a petition asking that the road be rerouted. Representatives of Falklands Conservation and the Public Works Department are also expected to attend, along with fisheries scientist Dr Paul Brickle. Councillor Luxton said he hopes the outcome of the meeting is that, "...petitioners will feel they have had a proper opportunity to air their views, will accept that the environmental issues have been given proper consideration, and will realise there are also considerable environmental impacts on the alternative route which are perhaps less obvious." He said that he felt value for money remains the biggest issue and, "...I cannot support the alternative route when it appears that the benefits of that route are marginal."

Cruise ships this week

ALTHOUGH beginning with a quiet weekend, a busy week is ahead for the cruise ship industry. Today Vistamar(carrying approximately 275 passengers) will call at West Point Island but Saturday and Sunday will be quiet. On Monday Amsterdam (1300) and Explorer II (198) will be in Stanley and on Tuesday it is the turn of Maxim Gorkiy(539). On Wednesday Royal Princess(1200) will visit Stanley. Hanseatic (130) will call at New Island and Carcass Island on Thursday, while Bremen (130) will visit Carcass and Steeple Jason.

Fire inquiry: man ?rebailed'

POLICE have "rebailed" a man in connection with a vehicle fire last month. Inspector Len McGill of the Royal Falkland Islands Police said the man was rebailed as, "...evidence is still being considered." Meanwhile police are still awaiting forensic results from the fire which destroyed the Davis Street home of Roger and Anne Howells in November.