Written by Nicholas Roberts for the 4th of December 2020 Edition of Penguin News, headline: “Two expedition vessels to transit through Falklands”

A NUMBER of tourists and their support staff will be transiting back to the UK via the Falkland Islands after an expedition cruise in January, it was announced in an FIG Press Statement on November 26.

The Spirit of Sydney cruise vessel operating company submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Falkland Islands Government which was approved in an Executive Council Meeting on November 25. The rationale for the approval was that the operating schedule would entail the passengers being at sea for a “quarantine equivalent period” of at least 14 days prior to arrival in Stanley, “as well as evidence of significant resources and capabilities that in combination would minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19 to the Falkland Islands,” it was explained in the ExCo paper. The paper also stated that, “allowing the Operator to disembark passengers and support staff in Stanley in January 2021 would have strategic value in that it would demonstrate a willingness to work safely, cooperatively and in a responsive manner with industry during the global pandemic,” and that, “the gesture would serve to underline the positioning of the Falkland Islands as an important ‘Gateway to Antarctica.’”

Safety measures implemented by the operator include: a backup vessel (the MY Explorer) to travel alongside the lead vessel (The MY Voyager) for purposes of isolation should a case of Covid-19 present itself; 500 testing kits and a PCR test machine aboard; a plane and helicopter on standby for purposes of medevac and onward transport; pre-voyage quarantine for the crew and self-isolation for passengers. There is also a range of general enhanced safety measures including daily temperature checks of staff, crew and guests; daily self-screening for symptoms and access to two on board doctors and one paramedic and enhanced sanitation and physical distancing of crew.

The eight passengers will disembark in Stanley from the MY Voyager on January 25, 14 days after leaving South Georgia, after which they will be taken to MPC by their helicopter and connect with onward flights using private aircraft. The eight passengers will be serviced by 42 crew and support staff on the MY Voyager, with an additional 36 crew and support staff on the secondary backup vessel. A coach will take the crew disembarking from the vessels to MPA to connect with these aircraft.

MLA Stacy Bragger confirmed to Penguin News that other operators had made expressions of interest to FIG for consideration of scheduled visits to the Islands during the 2020/21 summer season but said, “it doesn’t appear there’ll be any further vessels doing anything similar…

“There was only this one that was felt was in an adequate position to give approval to. There have been some other offerings but this one was the most developed in terms of the plans that they put together.”

Nicholas Roberts