Falklands : Transport Advisory Committee (05/01/06)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 06.01.2006 (Article Archived on 20.01.2006)
Find out what happened during this vital meeting.
TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee took place in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat at 1330hrs on Thursday, 05 January 2006. Present at the meeting were Cllrs. Rendell (Chair) and Hansen, Manfred Keenleyside (DPW), Julian Morris (FIDC), Bob Hancox (Roads Engineer), Andrew Newman (FIGAS), Ian Wilkinson (ISL), Marshall Barnes and Robin Pitaluga. Trudy Lee took the minutes.
Apologies came from Fraser Wallace, the legal rep and Raymond Evans.
After declarations of interest, the Chairman, Cllr. Mike Rendell, brought up an extra item for part two of the meeting that was related to Item & on the public agenda. All agreed that it was the right thing to do.
Matters arising from the meeting held on Thursday, 13 October 2005 were discussed, with the contract with Peter McKay progressing, howbeit with weather difficulties and soggy ground conditions. The project will be completed three weeks late but within the parameters set out.
There was a lengthy technical discussion about the culverts that had been installed in the Camp Road System. Evidently there is a bacteria that eats off the protective coating and weakens the steel underneath. This means the culverts will have to be replaced with PVC ones sooner rather than later. The new culverts will do the job but there are around 350 to 400, possibly more in the road system that will have to be replaced. Bob Hancox said that due to the bacteria the culverts are lasting 1/10th the time specified by the manufacturer. There was, however, good news in that the shipping of the new culverts would be one inside another and that should save space and money.
The Culverts at Corral Creek had been replaced and all is working fine, reported Bob Hancox. He mentioned that the PVC was difficult to install and he was unsure of how much rough handling they could receive. If handled too roughly they could crack and be useless.
Julian Morris updated the Committee on the Internal Transport Review and said that it was out for consultation. He felt that the main issues of the report affected the west more than it did the east. The reports were available in electronic and printed from the Secretariat. Cllr Rendell mentioned that it was important for a wide variety of people to see it, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Rural Business Association. There was a Camp Workshop on the 23rd where the report would be highlighted.
Next there was an update on the type of vessel that would be sought for coastal shipping and a report by Tim Cotter was considered. It was thought that though a ship of 26 metres in length would suit, a recommendation for one of 40 metres or longer was considered to be the best option. The Tamar could be converted to resemble her sister ship in Norway but the ship would not be recommended for use after 2012. Options include getting a second hand ship but they all have stern ramps rather than the preferred bow ramp. A “Ro-Ro” ferry was paramount. It was also noted that the infrastructure, location and lead time would have to be built to suit the ferry. No matter what happens, there are needs that must be met.
Julian Morris said it would cost £250,000.00 for the conversion of the Tamar, according to a Morris & Napier quote. The expenditure would keep the ship usable until 2012. Depending on the way forward, the shipyard used for conversion could be somewhere in South America. Raising the hatch to accommodate high vehicles was discussed but it was thought it would affect the ship’s ability to navigate during bad weather. The only problem that could occur is one of timing. If parts of the report were implemented, there would be no time for a South American trip.
A heated debate about the Coastal Shipping contract produced little results, with Ian Wilkinson saying that if the Tamar were to take on a ferry service this season then one or the other contractual services should have to go for this year only. Mr. Wilkinson said he had e-mailed the Chief Executive early in December to ask which of the contractual services would have to be curtailed for this year only, in order to accommodate a ferry service. According to Mr. Wilkinson, no answer has been forthcoming from the Chief Executive.
Julian Morris said he was speaking for the Chief Executive when he complained about an apparent lack of communication with ISL a few instances were pointed out when schedules had been changed but people were not informed by ISL. Also there was a matter of the schedule that ISL would follow should the ferry service begin in May. The information was not forthcoming.
Mr. Wilkinson maintained that one of the contractual services – Wool, Shipping or Sheep for FIMCO. It was proposed that the whole Coastal Shipping Future be discussed at a date to be fixed. All agreed.
The last discussion item was the possible impact of the Road Programme of the Ferry Operation from Port Howard to New Haven. There wouldn’t be any affect except for the road to Shallow Harbour. Bob Hancox expressed concern that there would be heavy use of his plant and that could delay the road. Mike Rendell said that Mr. Hancox was right to bring this up and that it did cause some anxiety for people on the west.
There was no definite date set for the next meeting, only that it should be in the last week of March 2006.
|
