MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Fishery Patrol Vessel <i>Dorada</i> is dwarfed by the cruise ship <i>Star Princess</i> in Port William this month.

Headlines: Bad weather = £184k loss; An end to Tamar's delay?; Dockyard project moves on; Dorada's future unclear; Mini Sports this weekend.

Bad weather = £184k lossTHE Falklands lost out on almost £200,000 when poor weather led to the cancellation of cruise ships earlier this month. Nearly four thousand people were expected to visit Stanley on Friday, January 11 aboard the ships Infinity and Norwegian Dream,, however high winds led both ships to cancel their stops. The Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) has been assessing the financial implications such cancellations have and it is no small amount. General Manager Jake Downing said that around £184,000 had been lost in revenue on that one day: "That's just over £46 a head including harbour dues, landing fees, excursions, retail - everything." Mr. Downing thanked members of the industry who had provided information to FITB in their effort to calculate the impacts of the cruise cancellations. An end to Tamar's delay?AFTER a month of troubles, the coastal shipping vessel Tamar yesterday looked set to sail. After three weeks without the shipping service, fuel supplies were running low in parts of the Camp and farmers were becoming increasingly frustrated with a lack of information about the vessel's progress. In some cases, wool had been sitting on jetties awaiting collection since the beginning of December and farmers feared they were losing money. Yesterday, while at last it seemed there might be a happy ending to the saga - with the Tamar expected to sail either last night or today pending the outcome of trials and a Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspection - farmers remained dissatisfied at the lack of information provided to them by the vessel's managers, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC). Others were concerned whether, once Tamar was back up and running, shifting sheep for the abattoir would have preference over the shipment of wool. Information from FIDC had been "non existent", said Fox Bay's Gavin Marsh: "Since they got involved it has just got worse." Cash flow was being put back by the inability to get wool shipped and it should be a priority once the ship was operational, he said, adding: "Innocent parties are taking the brunt for poor management." Fox Bay had no petrol left, he said, and was seriously low on kerosene and gas while it awaited its overdue visit from Tamar. Raymond Evans at Pebble Island was also concerned about the inability to get his valuable hoggett and shearling wool away. With the need for farmers to get bales of wool core tested in Stanley before a price could be negotiated with buyers, it was more essential now than in the past that it was shipped at the earliest opportunity, Mr. Evans said. On top of this, he said, the forecast recession could have a negative impact on wool prices. The earliest he could expect to get wool away from the Islands was February 22, and there was the risk of further drops in the market during the Easter recess. "It's very frustrating," he said. "It's got beyond a joke," said Ali Marsh who has had wool sitting on trailers and on the jetty at Dunnose Head since the beginning of December. Living two hours drive from Fox Bay, Ali and Marlane are out of petrol, were down to the last of their diesel and worrying about the fact they were "dipping out" on the recent good prices offered for wool. The repair workSpirits were low after a replacement compressor which was ordered for the vessel turned out to be the wrong specification when it arrived last week and it was thought that the waiting would be prolonged while more spares were brought down on the airbridge from the UK. FIDC's Tim Cotter said that although early enquiries, including with Byron Marine, had not produced the necessary approved parts locally, suitable approved spares were later discovered at the Power Station. Continued on page 2. Dockyard project moves onA DRAFT survey report for the Historic Dockyard has been received in the Islands. The Historic Dockyard Working Group will be meeting to discuss the document next week and to collate comments for the surveyors to consider before their final report is delivered. Nuala McKay from the Falkland Islands Development Corporation is the contact for this stage of the Historic Dockyard project. She said that a "vision" is required for the site. "These preliminary works – the architect's drawings as well as the surveys - are a precursor to that. They aim to assess the development potential of the site and the buildings - in other words what can be done with them and what are the options? "We will then work towards creating a costed development plan for the site. I don't think that the plan will reflect any one individual's idea for the site but will be part of a wider consultation exercise." There has already been a level of consultation on how the dockyard project should develop, including a large amount of effort from the Museum, but Nuala said there was still room for more: "The plan should be something that the community wants and needs and that works - it should serve a purpose, be able to support itself and be well supported locally." Dorada's future unclearTHE future of the Fishery Patrol Vessel Doradais under review. The ten-year Charter Party between Dorada Marine Limited and the Falkland Islands Government, for the provision of Doradaas the Falkland Islands fishery patrol, research and surveillance vessel, expired on January 9, 2008. A spokesman for Dorada Marine said the company had been in discussion with the Falkland Islands Government for many months as to a future trading period and that the vessel's crew were aware of this. Councillor Richard Cockwell confirmed a paper about Doradahad gone to a meeting of yesterday's Executive Council but declined to comment further. Doradacontinues on day-to-day patrol duties, until the vessel's future is determined. Mini Sports this weekendTHE Stanley Sports Association's Mini Sports take place this weekend with horse racing, gymkana and fun events. The action will begin at 9.30am on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Government House will open its gardens up to the public from 11am to 3pm.