Falklands : Falklands: High Winds Strand 963 in Stanley
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 03.02.2005 (Article Archived on 17.02.2005)
Gale force winds have stranded 963 of M/V Amsterdam's 900 passengers and crew in Stanley.
FALKLANDS: HIGH WINDS STRAND 400 IN STANLEY
By J. Brock (FINN)
Wednesday’s gale force winds have stranded 963 passengers and crew off the M/S AMSTERDAM in Stanley for the night. The ordeal began at 1400. when the Harbourmaster closed the harbour due to high winds and the tenders that brought the passengers to shore could not make it safely back to the ship, which was anchored in Port William.
There were Falkland Islanders who were kept aboard the luxury liner as well. They had gone aboard to sell stamps and some handicrafts when the seas became too rough to transport them back to shore.
Islanders very quickly came to the rescue, with the Rev. Paul Sweeting opening the Parish Hall to accommodate stranded people and to give them coffees and teas throughout the afternoon. In the evening, they were split into two groups. One group went to the FIDF Hall for shelter and to get something to eat and the other group stayed in the Parish Hall. Thanks to the Globe Tavern and the Chamber of Commerce, food soon was on the way to the hungry passengers.
At dusk, Islanders took people into their homes and others slept on donated mattresses in the Parish Hall or the FIDF Hall.
At the moment, the winds are dying down but no one knows when or if the passengers will return to the M/V AMSTERDAM tonight. Watch this space. An nupdated story will be published shortly
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