MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Georgia: 18 cruise vessels and 2.308 pax in January

Eighteen cruise vessels, with a total 2308 passengers visited South Georgia Island during the month of January reports the South Georgia News & Events.

One vessel, "Prince Albert II", was under charter for an educational trip by 89 US students aged 15 – 18. A visit to the science base at King Edward Point, KEP had been arranged, and scientists from the base also went aboard the ship to give a talk on their work here. Cruise ship "Delphin" made her first ever visit to South Georgia. There were also visits from two research ships: the BAS ship "RRS James Clark Ross" called on January 3rd to take on cargo and waste and collect one passenger; and the NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) ship "RRS James Cook" called on January 17th. Seven yachts have been visiting this month and one, "Wanderer III", is planning to over-winter at South Georgia. Regarding fishing vessels an ice-fish trawler which started off with poor catches but quickly caught their Total Allowable Catch once they found the fish left the fishery on January 6th. Three further trawlers arrived for inspection and licensing between January 12th and 15th. With poor catches and bad weather, two of the vessels returned to anchor off Hope Point for a few days to conserve fuel and wait for the more favourable moon phase. Meanwhile five additional scientific staff joined the Ice-fish trawler "Sil" to conduct the annual GSGSSI research-fishing cruise.