FINN (COM) DAILY RECORD: 05 DECEMBER 2003
(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: FRIDAY, 05 DECEMBER 2003:
NEW CHARTER FLIGHT FEARS:
There are reports this morning that the Argentine government has stepped in to ban next Wednesday’s charter flight, which was do to carry out a passenger exchange for the Clipper Adventurer. FIC, who are agents for the boat, said this morning they had no news on the flight but Tim Miller (TM), at Stanley Growers, told us this:
TM: I had an e-mail late last night from our supply director for Clipper Cruise line apologising for regretting to inform me of the fact that they have now had to change their plans and divert away from Stanley and do their passenger exchange in South America because of the charter flight over-flight ban.
SG: This was just for the flight next Wednesday, or is it a more general one?
TM: They hope that it is going to be sorted out before next month because obviously other companies will be back here again in January. There are five cruise exchanges due for January. They certainly would like to come back and they are very apologetic for not being able to come this time. If the plane can’t fly, he can’t get here. I rather fear that if it’s not resolved fairly swiftly over the next 10 days or so before Christmas between the Foreign Office and Buenos Aires, it will obviously become a permanent, general ban.
SG: And, this is not a new application for a flight, is it? This is one that’s been expected for quite some time.
TM: That’s right. Presumably, this one would have been in the system months ago. Certainly the ship was scheduled to call here on that particular day for a passenger exchange many, many months ago. It’s certainly not a new application. It will have a severe economic impact on us as well. We have a fairly large salad order for this ship, which was specifically grown for this ship, We still have to harvest it and get rid of it so it will be harvested and dumped.
SG: In the future, if this doesn’t get sorted out, it could be very severe..
TM: Yes but I think in the meantime, we’ve got to sit tight. It’s now down to the Foreign Office to do some hard talking and sort it out.
SG: And, we haven’t been able to get any news this morning from Government House confirming the situation.
MAERSK FREIGHT LINK:
FIDC is looking for a local company to work as agent for a potential international freight link via Montevideo. Shipping Company, Maersk, has decided to visit the Islands in January to check out the possibility of a regular freight visit, linking the Islands to its international network. FIDC is also talking to local businesses to find out how much local interest there is in filling the proposed 6,000 tonne ship (I think she means GRT) on its north-bound journey. They say unfortunately they won’t be able to offer a direct link to Ascension. FIDC’s Tim Cotter (TC) told us more.
TC: The situation at the moment is that Mersk Sealand are intending to send a ship here for technical trial some time in January. The intention is that Maersk would like to run a feeder service in here for their international container service. There will be an opportunity for a container service from the Falkland Islands to anywhere else in the world – Maersk being a large container ship operator.
SG: There were suggestions that they weren’t ready to come down yet. What made them change their mind, do you think?
TC: We have been hassling them quite a bit in the last couple of weeks to run a trial. Certainly, the General Manager, Julian Morris has been very active in this respect to get them to come to a decision. I have been in contact with Maersk in South America to actually get them to tie up something for the trial. This is a purely technical trial to get the ship to come in, to see how it operates and turns in the tides and all the rest of it to get used to the port. They are looking at potential cargo and the other thing is they need a company here to act as agent and do all the ground operations for Maersk.
SG: Will this tie in with meat export, and the development of FIMCO?
TC: It could well do but that’s only part of the operation. This is a development for sea freight that may have implications for all of the Falkland Islands future.
COURT NEWS:
Henry Lesley Whitney was given a conditional discharge this morning, for drinking while on a prohibition order. He told the Court that when he was found drunk in his home last month, he had been drinking whiskey that he had bought for himself before his prohibition order was enforced on November 7th. The conditional discharge is to run for 6 months.
WIRELESS FOR THE BLIND:
Just a reminder that you won’t have our usual programming tomorrow because FIBS are giving the day over to the BFBS Wireless for the Blind Radio Marathon. The BFBS guys will be raising money on air from 1000 to late, with this year’s live auction offering a huge range of prizes. You could bid for everything from a black-tie dinner, to a curry take away from Brize Norton. 33355 or 33366 are the numbers to call to take part. 33373 is the number for music requests. The ab sail which was postponed from last month will now be held on Sunday between 1100 and 1500 at Mt. Harriet. Cheques can be made payable to Service Funds MPA (BFBSWFTB).
NOVEMBER WEATHER:
We’ve all been moaning about the weather recently but has it actually been any worse than usual? The MPA Met Office says average temperatures for November were lower than normal because of a cold final week. And, we were right, it was also wetter, less sunny and had more snow, sleet and hail than usual. There were 12 days when snow or sleet fell, which is the highest incidence since records began. But that was in 1986. There were 89.5mm of rain – well above the November average of 35.9 and we had a total of 148.4 hours of sunshine – below the average of 216.2 hours.
GREASE MANIA:
Grease mania is to hit the Narrows bar next Friday, all in the aid of charity. "Q" Mines, Tay Taylor (TT) says it’s going to be a great night.
TT: There’s a charity night and it’s based around "Grease" the film at the Narrows Bar on the 12th of December starting at 1930. It’s been organised by Hillside personnel, Ed, who runs the Narrows and also by Annie Curtis. Between us we are going to run a super raffle, prizes for best fancy dress, (optional) and admission is by ticket only and they are available around the Kelper stores. It’s £5.00 for adults, and 12 and under, it’s £2.50. That ticket covers finger food, games, and a disco. Ed’s going to chose a charity from her side and the other half is going into the EOD charity box at Hillside Camp and the money will go to SAMA’82, the Royal British Legion and possibly another charity do with soldiers that died in Iraq.
SHIPPING NEWS:
The Norwegian Crown is anchored in Port William with 979 passengers who are due to take shore excursions before their departure, which is scheduled for 1600. The Tug, Indomitable is alongside FIPASS at the moment. The M/S Andrea is due to berth at FIPASS around 0700 on Saturday with 65 passengers onboard.
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