S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (24/10/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 25.10.2005 (Article Archived on 01.11.2005)
A brief run-down of South Atlantic news
SARTMA DAILY (24/10/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Articles by FINN
Calling the Falklands Item
Section 2: Hydrocarbons News
Section 3: Committee News
Section 4: Announcements
Section 1:
WILMA AFFECTS FALKLANDS TV VIEWING
By J. Brock (FINN)
KTV Subscribers have been affected to Hurricane Wilma passing through Florida. Channels like Discovery, People and Arts and the History Channel, beamed from Wilma’s path will be off until power is on and systems restored.
Hurricane Wilma slammed into Florida near Naples as a category 3 Hurricane and quickly passed through Florida while downgrading to a category 2 storm before passing to the Atlantic Ocean and becoming a Category 4 Hurricane.
TRAFALGAR EVENTS OVER THE WEEKEND
TRAFALGAR DAY RINGING FOR SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS
By J. Brock (SARTMA)
On Friday, 21 October 2005 – the 200th anniversary of Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory over the Spanish and French Fleets at Trafalgar in Spain, waves of Church bells and ships bells rang to honour the man who was lost to a sniper’s bullet after the victory was won. At precisely 1200 hrs a team of seven ringers in the Falklands and two (Tim and Pauline Carr) at the Whaler’s Church in South Georgia, some 800 miles to the east, began to pull the ropes. Her Majesty’s ships around the world also rang their bells at precisely 1200 hrs as well.
The five bells, pulled by Keith and Kathy Biles, Rebecca, Hannah, and Daphne Arthur Almond, Louise Taylor and Abigail Cook, a visiting tourist from the UK rang a total of 504 changes lasting 20 minutes. The Bells of the Cathedral were cast at Whitechapel, London in 1904 and range in weight from 9cwt.(1,017lbs) to 3.5 cwt. (400lbs). The ringing methods used were Double Bob, Single Court and St. Nicholas.
YOUTH ORGANISATIONS KEPT BUSY OVER TRAFALGAR 200
By J. Brock (FINN)
UK Falklands Sea Cadets played a major role in a parade at Trafalgar Square on Sunday when the contingent acted as wreath bearers for HRH the Duke of York, Admiral Sir Alan West and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr. Tim Joiner when they lay wreaths at the foot of Nelson’s Column. Cllr Edwards and FI Rep. Sukey Cameron also attended the ceremony. Spending a week with UK Sea Cadets, Shane Mitchell, Tanzie Bonner, Mark Courtney and Dion Robertson will commemorate Trafalgar day in honour of the 200th anniversary of the victory over the Spanish fleet by Admiral Lord Nelson in October 1805.
In Stanley it took just over 36 minutes for Sea and Marine Cadets to pull a Naval cannon from Dairy Paddock Road to the FIDF Drill Hall. Scouts and Guides were also present for the event. Along the way the Police Escorted entourage stopped traffic. Money was raised by trying to guess how long it would take to move the canon.
On Saturday afternoon there was an open day at the Town Hall hosted by Stanley’s Sea and Marine Cadets. Static displays and stalls as well as the bouncy castle were the main attraction. A Presentation of a small kit boat by Robin Pitaluga happened at the open day. According to John Clifford Mr. Pitaluga bought the kit in the 1950s and never finished it. He is hopeful that the Sea Cadets can do something with it.
On Sunday the youth organisations took part in the Trafalgar 200 Commemoration Service at Christ Church Cathedral. Rainbow Guides lined the walk outside the Cathedral.
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES GET- TOGETHER
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Dee Palmer (DP) 21/10/05
Falklands representatives attended the Overseas Territories Consultative Council, which was held in London this week. Our reporter, Judy Frankel (JF) went to Falkland House to meet the head of the Falklands Delegation, Cllr. Jan Cheek (JC) just before she left to go back to the Islands. So, what was discussed at the meeting?
JC: The principle subjects were things like an overview of the UK/OT relationship – that is UK, Overseas Territories – a discussion of constitutional modernisation, which is going on in all the territories at the moment, other more general issues – Human Rights, law enforcement, External Relations, Good Governance, Environmental Issues, EU Issues and, at our request, the question of Higher Education Fees was added to the agenda. Most people in the Islands will know that for many years now Island Representatives and our Governor have been making pleas to the British Government to consider allowing Overseas Territories students to take advantage as other EU Citizens can, of the local University fees rather than the very expensive overseas one. We got, I think, an undertaking that it would be investigated now quite quickly. So we are hoping to hear something in the next couple of months. But whether it will be good news or not, I don’t know.
JF: Tell me a little bit about the atmosphere in these meetings? Obviously the discussions are serious, the subject matter weighty but what is the atmosphere like when you meet all your colleagues from the Overseas Territories?
JC: The atmosphere is very good. Several of us have been there more than once so some of the people now have become old friends. This years meetings have been particularly friendly.
JF: Are there commonalities between you greater than the differences?
JC: Indeed. There are some issues, which are peculiar to the Caribbean Territories – disaster management for example. Cayman experienced a hurricane a year ago. Even as we were meeting they were worried that another hurricane was on its way to them. They also have some particular issues as does Gibraltar with the fact that they are financial centres. But those apart, there is much more that links us in that we are all British Overseas Territories and that’s by choice.
JF: And apart from official business you obviously had informal meetings as well.
JC: Most of the delegates were at the Gibraltar reception on Monday night, which was celebrating Gibraltar Day. And they had a huge reception in the Guild Hall. And, among the 1,000 guests were previous Governor David Tatham, previous Chief Executive Andrew Gurr and on the second night, Tuesday night, the Foreign Office held a reception to which they invited previous Governors. But we did meet there our future Governor, Mr. Alan Huckle, who we expect to take up his post sometime next year.
JF: Can you tell us anything about him?
JC: I don’t think it would be fair. Of course he’s keen to take up his post. He knows a lot about the Falklands, having served in the Overseas Territories Department in the Foreign Office. He visited the Falklands some years ago so he’s looking forward to coming down with his wife.
Section 2:
HYDROCARBONS NEWS:
Rockhopper Exploration plc
24 October 2005
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 24 October 2005
Rockhopper Exploration plc
Seismic Contract and Update
2D seismic - new data collection programme and update on interpretation of existing data Rockhopper Exploration plc (Rockhopper) is pleased to announce it has entered into a contract with Geophysical Service Incorporated (GSI) to perform a 2D seismic survey over licences PL023 & PL024 in the North Falkland Basin which should be completed by the end of Q1 2006. The survey will consist of approximately 900 km of acquisition.
Licences PL023 and PL024 extend over an area of 4200 km2 in water depths of between 120m and 200m. Rockhopper has now completed an interpretation of the existing 1832 km of 2D seismic data covering the licenced areas and the results confirm the presence of a number of prospects and some 17 leads.
The J1 prospect is a robust 4 way closure, with potential oil-in-place of over 300 million barrels as assessed by Scott Pickford Limited. The J Central and J North prospects have the potential to contain 90 and 30 million bbls respectively in place based on the company's own estimates. The leads range in size individually from 70 million bbls potentially in place to over 850 million bbls potentially in place based on the company's own estimates. The new survey is intended to better define the J1 prospect in licence PL024 as well as a number of other leads and prospects in PL023 and PL024 which are have been identified on the existing 2D data.
Rockhopper's other 100% licences, PL032 & PL033, are covered by approximately 1540 km of 2D and 368 km2 of 3D seismic data. Licences PL032 and PL033, which lie in 350m to 500m of water contain a number of prospects and leads which have been mapped at various levels. Most of these prospects are downfaulted closures against the main fault at various levels on the eastern basin margin. These range in size from 290 million barrels to 620 million barrels potentially in place according to the company's own estimates.In addition to the down-faulted closures, two large 'pinch-out' prospects have been mapped, one with over 150 million bbls potentially in place, the other with over 1.5 billion bbls potentially in place based on the company's own estimates. Further 3D seismic is required to develop the acreage for potential drilling. Funding is in place for this new 3D and a programme has already been designed.
Contact:
Rockhopper Exploration plc
Sam Moody - Managing Director 01722 414 419
Aquila Financial Ltd
rockhopper@aquila-financial.com
Peter Reilly 020 7849 3319
Yvonne Fraser 020 7849 3326
www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk
The Rockhopper Group started trading in February 2004 to invest in and carry out an offshore oil exploration programme to the north of the Falkland Islands. The Group, who floated on AIM in August 2005, is currently the largest licence holder in the North Falkland Basin and owns a 100 per cent. interest in four offshore production licences which cover approximately 5,800 sq. km. These licences have been granted by the Falkland Islands government. In total, the Board and its Consultant, the Falklands expert David Bodecott, have over 120 years experience in the oil industry, with specific expertise in the field of exploration and in the region itself.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Section 3:
COMMITTEE NEWS: FALKLANDS LANDHOLDINGS BOARD
A meeting of the Falklands Landholdings Board took place at the Chamber of Commerce Function Room at 1330 hrs on Monday, 24 October 2005. Minutes from the previous meeting held on Wednesday, 10 August 2005 were confirmed and matters arising from them were noted.
In the General Manager’s Report, contract sales, double fleeces, stained wool and the number of sheep (50) during the recent bad weather were noted. He reported that of the 149 bales of wool that went to FIPASS, 35 had been sold and the remainder is due to be sold to Standard Wool Ltd. for shipment to Montevideo. Prices received for wool were disappointing but the wool left behind was not of the best quality. He went on to say that shearing had started at Goose Green and Fitzroy and that Fitzroy was between runs of shearing when the bad weather hit. Goose Green had to stop shearing during the bad weather. Finally, Doreen and Nick Davis agreed to stay on at the run the Stanley Dairy until March 2006. FIDC are hoping to develop detailed plans to put the business back in the private sector.
An item made public was the sale of buildings belonging to FLH in the Recovery plan. The Bunk House at Goose Green has been sold to Peter McKay and Albert McLearn had bought a stone house at Walker Creek. The house on Beaver Road has been sold as well as a stone house at Goose Green. There was a discussion about some of the buildings in Camp being listed as the stone house at Goose Green should be but isn’t. Jane Cameron is going to draw up a list. One building at North Arm was an old Catholic Church and should be listed.
Fencing at North Arm is almost complete and at Goose Green it is progressing well but Fitzroy is behind schedule. Existing materials will be used for fencing. It was necessary to complete fencing for the rotation of the lambs. However, it won’t mean the end of the world if it isn’t all completed by December.
Cllr. Summers wanted to know how much of the money raised thus far had been reinvested. Owen Summers said that it wasn’t much at the moment but some of the money had been used for cropping.
The financial report was given by Bernadette Lang who said that FLH was on budget except for a late wool payment from the UK that would accrue interest. Some items had the wrong codes on them and the anomalies would be taken up with farmers in due course.
It was hoped that some wool shipments could go directly to Mare Harbour but this was to be discussed further with officials at MPC. It makes sense because there was core testing at North Arm and Goose Green and shipments could be conveniently containerised at Mare Harbour.
Deloitte has completed the audit and has proposed some adjustments but there would be a joint meeting between the entire board, including all camp members with the Auditors to discuss the proposals.
Finally, the bank mandate had become unworkable and discussions about who should sign cheques and for what amount ensued with the new mandate being based around two lists of signatories. The General Manager and Accounts Assistant were on one list, while the Financial Controller and Board Members were on the other. The old mandate list was revoked in favour of the new one.
The public session of the meeting closed at 1410 hrs.
Section 4:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Public Works Department will be closing Ross Road between Barrack Street and Villiers Street from Tuesday, 15 October 2005 for four days to allow for surface repairs to be carried out. It is intended that the road will be opened at peak times – mornings, lunchtimes and in the evenings in order to minimize disruption. But during the rest of the day no through traffic will be permitted. On the occasions when the road is open, the surface will be rougher than usual so drivers should pass through the works at a slow speed.
Wednesday, 26 October 2005 is the next Dog Dosing Day. Would all dog owners in Stanley please ensure their dogs are taken to the Veterinary Office for their Hydatid treatment. The Veterinary office will be open from 0800 to 1700.
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