Penguin News Update.

Friday, January 6th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

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Headlines:
Tense ferry talks; High seas moves; Busy cruise week; New phase for PN; Rower runs aground; First Sea Lord to visit.

Tense ferry talks

A GROUP is to be formed to "sort out" plans for the interim ferry service between East and West Falkland, after a tense meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC). At the meeting held yesterday, there was heated discussion about the lack of progress of the proposed ferry service to be provided by Island Shipping Ltd (ISL). Councillor Mike Rendell said he felt people were starting to "give up" on the service. Ian Wilkinson of ISL said he submitted a risk assessment of operating an interim ferry "as of now" to the Chief Executive in early December but had not heard anything back since. He urged, "Tell us what you want." However, Julian Morris, General Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation, said he believed the Chief Executive had not yet received the proper information that he had requested of ISL. Mr Wilkinson responded that he needed instruction as to which of ISL's commitments should be allowed to suffer if the ferry is introduced - "the delivery to the West and islands, sheep for the abattoir or wool?" Mr Morris told Mr Wilkinson, "FIG, as your customer, doesn't feel you have given them what they requested. "You stillhaven't provided the schedules you said - while we were (consulting with residents) on theWest - you were going to provide." Mr Wilkinson reiterated that he was still waiting to hear which service the government was willing to compromise. He suggested that the government "truncate" meat movement to the abattoir, to which Mr Morris retorted, "John Ferguson (abattoir manager) has already said he will arrange sheep movements to fit around you..." Councillor Rendell accused Mr Wilkinson of "playing one personality off another" while Councillor Ian Hansen suggested a group be "locked in a room to sort this out". The committee agreed this will happen as a matter of priority.

Dunnose Head road progress to continue

The progress of the road to Dunnose Head and Shallow Harbour on West Falkland "should not" be delayed by the building of a new road to the site of a proposed ferry terminal at Second Creek. The Transport Advisory Committee heard yesterday that plant which is now being used to build the Dunnose Head road will be used on the Second Creek road during the off-season. Last month, Penguin Newsreported that farmers in the Dunnose Head/Shallow Harbour area were anxious that their road would be halted to enable the building of the new road for the ferry terminal.IN WHAT the South American press describes as "another twist of its tightening policy towards the Falkland Islands" the Argentine government says its jiggers are now fishing in the South Atlantic high seas, in advance of the start of the official squid season in February. However Councillor Mike Summers says the Argentine government is "mistaken" in suggesting this is an anti-Falklands measure. He commented, "If they are catching on the high seas before the start of the Argentine fishing season, there will be less squid in the Argentine zone." For some time Argentine vessels have been permitted by their government to fish on the high seas before their season opens. Falklands vessels are restricted from fishing for illex on the high seas until January 1, as a conservation measure. Director of Fisheries, John Barton, said a number of other fleets will also be operating on the high seas, "...and prior to Christmas our fishery protection vessel recorded in excess of 100 jiggers already in the area." Councillor Summers said this highlights the need for "some high seas regulation" which the Falklands have been keen to agree on for some time. Mr Barton concurred: "It is a long held Falklands aspiration to have an agreement relating to the high seas which would provide for the proper conservation of illex squid; unfortunately it has not been possible to make much progress on that."

Busy cruise week

THE Falklands has a busy week of cruise visits ahead. Stanley welcomes Norwegian Crown today. She will be carrying approximately 1,100 passengers. Aleksey Maryshevwill visit New Island and Carcass Island, with approximately 48 passengers, before heading to Stanley tomorrow. Explorer II will also be in town on Saturday, with 150 passengers, while Multanovskiy will visit West Point and Saunders Island (with 47 passengers). Clipper Adventurer(with 114 passengers) will spend Saturday at New Island and Carcass Island before calling into Stanley on Sunday. Multanovskiy will spend Sunday in Stanley while Molchanov (with 49 passengers) will be at New Island and Carcass Island and Polar Pioneer(with 54 passengers) will be at Sea Lion Island. Molchanov and Polar Pioneerwill be in Stanley on Monday. On Wednesday, Akademik Sergey Vavilov will call at Bleaker Island.

New phase for PN

PENGUIN NEWS has begun the new year with a new printer. After more than a decade of having PNpublished at the government's Printing Office, the paper is now being digitally produced by Stanley Electrical Ltd. This change is likely to bring with it some minor teething troubles over the next few weeks and we ask that readers bear with us as we work through this transition stage.

Rower runs aground

LESS than two days after embarking on an attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica in a single handed row boat, Colin Yeates ran aground in the Falklands on Tuesday. Mr Yeates yesterday told Penguin News he plans to examine the condition of his boat before deciding whether to recommence or abandon his mission. Full story on page 3.

First Sea Lord to visit

THE most senior man in the Royal Navy is to visit the Falklands this month. First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West GCB DSC ADC, was commander of HMS Ardentwhich was sunk during the Falklands War. He will participate in a service of commemoration on HMS DumbartonCastle in San Carlos waters on Thursday, January 19.

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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