Falklands : TAMAR TO TAKE OVER FROM ST BRANDON AS MOD VESSEL SUPPORT
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 30.01.2009 (Article Archived on 13.02.2009)
On 17Sep08 the MOD issued a circular about expressions of interest for a new contract for an MOD Support Vessel in the Falklands.
TAMAR TO TAKE OVER FROM ST BRANDON AS MOD VESSEL SUPPORT
By J. Brock (FINN)
On 17Sep08 the MOD issued a circular about expressions of interest for a new contract for an MOD Support Vessel in the Falklands. This was followed up by MOD issuing a qualification process for interested bidders to confirm their commitment to bid. Byron Marine was a bidder but on 23Jan09 the Company was told by MOD (UK) that the bid was unsuccessful. Byron Marine has consistently bid for MOD vessel support tenders since 1994.
Industry sources from the UK as well as a Military spokesperson from Mount Pleasant have confirmed that the successful bidder is the Dutch Company, Van Wijngarden Marine Services BV, which is currently contracted to supply tug support at Mare Harbour, and that its bid may consist of the provision of a two tugs (one in addition to the existing unit) and a large barge with crane facilities, but in order to get through an initial period, the MV TAMAR FI would be contracted to the Dutch company to support their MOD operations.
Argyll Coastal Services (ACS), present owners of the Tamar-FI, announced that no contracts had yet been signed by any parties for the MoD contract but that Tamar would be, working locally for a couple of months.
The St Brandon could be departing the Falklands for good at the end of March 2009. Several of St Brandon’s crew have been in the Falklands with the ship since early 1983 and FINN met them in 1985 with students from Stanley House Hostel. They are at home here and it will be sad to see them go.
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