Falklands : Amsterdam Passengers Praise Islanders' Hospitality
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 03.02.2005 (Article Archived on 17.02.2005)
The 963 passengers and crew off the M/V Amsterdam have praised the Falkland Islanders who helped them while they were stranded.
AMSTERDAM PASSENGERS PRAISE ISLANDERS FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY
By J. Brock (FINN)
The number of passengers and crew off the M/V AMSTERDAM that actually spent the night ashore in Stanley and at Estancia in the Falkland Islands was finally counted as 963. As reported last night, the harbour had been closed at 1400 on Wednesday, stranding Islanders selling stamps onboard the M/V AMSTERDAM and keeping some 963 passengers and crew from returning to the ship.
The first people to become involved were the Royal Falkland Islands Police, who helped to untangle the situation and found everyone a bed for the night and food for them to eat. The Parish Hall was immediately opened so that the passengers could get some shelter from the blustery winds and a hot cup of tea or coffee. The Seamen’s Centre and the FIDF Hall soon opened as the scale of the stranding became apparent. The Globe Tavern as well as the Chamber of Commerce, the Seamen’s Centre and the Upland Goose Hotel provided timely meals for the passengers. In the end, the list of those who donated food, mattresses and blankets and other services were too many to mention.
Five hundred people were accommodated in homes around Stanley and at Estancia. The remainder spent the night at the Lighthouse Seamen’s Centre, the FIDF Hall, the Upland Goose Hotel and the Parish Hall.
By 0600 on Thursday, winds had subsided enough to allow passengers to re-board the M/V AMSTERDAM and to allow the two Philatelic Bureau Staff to leave the ship. M/V AMSTERDAM sailed at 0800 on Thursday.
Once aboard, the M/V AMSTERDAM, returning passengers had high praise for the hospitality that was offered to them by Falkland Islanders. On behalf of Holland America Line, the Falkland Islands Company Limited Shipping Agency thanked everybody who offered accommodation and other help while the stranded passengers and crew were ashore.
Said the Captain of the AMSTERDAM in a message to the FIC Shipping Agency, “I appreciate all that was done. I realise the situation was a logistical nightmare and I would like to thank all involved. Thank you one and all.”
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