About the Business Road Show First-Person Accounts from the ESH Road Show Held in Johannesburg Feb

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

About the Business Road Show First-Person Accounts from the ESH Road Show Held in Johannesburg Feb www.sams.sh THE South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd. Vol. 6,SENTINEL Issue 47 - Price: £1 “serving St Helena and her community worldwide” Thursday 01 March 2018 About the Business Road Show First-person accounts from the ESH Road Show held in Johannesburg Feb. 17-24 ... pages 10 - 12 Motion of the ... page 8 Teutonic Hall Restoration Ocean Update ... page 5 Wirebird Numbers Up Since Last Year ... page 6 Photography Exhibition Humanises Remains ... page 17 2 www.sams.sh Thursday 01 March 2018 | THE SENTINEL OPINION YOUR LETTERS 25 February 2018 a friend of George Young, Shipping Dear Editor Editor of the Cape Times, and I was SENTINEL able to meet him. After the meeting, How the St Helena Line got started the Cape Times published a long article on the issues facing St Helena, COMMENT Now that the island has said a final and the content was further reported Mic-kail Harris, SAMS apprentice farewell to theRMS, it occurs to me by several maritime publications. As that your readers might be interested it turned out, this publicity was a I recently have been feeling to know something of the background critical element in the search for a that money causes corruption. to the start of the St Helena Line. solution. “Corruption” is a strong word, but Many on the island will remember After a few restful days at sea I was it feels appropriate, as I have been the pre-RMS shipping service to able to spend a week on the island experiencing people, especially St Helena and Ascension, provided before the departure of the next young people, acting needy after by cargo ships of the Union Castle cargo ship back to Cape Town. It was overspending (and this is a bad Line. Many will have experienced a busy time, what with collecting pattern to get into at a young age). the inter-island service between St information on passenger numbers When people get £10, £20 or even Helena and Ascension on the deck and discussing the options for a £100, they seem to think that they of a Union Castle ship. The service shipping service. I was also able have power. They dream of buying was provided under contract to the to broadcast a talk about shipping new technology or a new set of UK Government, with Union Castle options on St Helena radio and go on wheels (or maybe a cat!). Once receiving a specified payment for a guided walk with the late George they get and spend money like each call at Ascension or St Helena. Benjamin. this, they’ll always want to have Here is a brief description of how the On my return to the UK, I was and spend money until money has St Helena Line got started. including intrigued to find a letter from control over what they do. my own involvement in the process. Andrew Bell, Director of Curnow Many seem to forget that In early 1975, the Union Castle Shipping Ltd, asking for information sometime in the near future, they Line informed the UK Government about providing a shipping service may not have money in their that, as a consequence of the to St Helena, which I was pleased to pockets. They will just spend containerisation of the Cape Town provide. Andrew had seen a magazine money immediately on things that route, it would no longer be economic article about the shipping problems don’t matter long-term, such as for its ships to call at St Helena facing St Helena, based on the earlier their “personal entertainment” and Ascension. The Government article in the Cape Times. He believed (drinking and smoking, etc). commissioned Peat Marwick Mitchell he had two elements of a possible Afterwards, whilst broke, they and Co Management Consultants to solution: (i) a shipping company; will expect money to appear in prepare a study of the options for and (ii) potentially, a suitable ship to front of them. Subsequently they shipping services. At the time I was provide the service. The ship which will try to do things (maybe drastic a consultant with the firm and was he had in mind was the ‘Northland things) just to get money. selected to do this work. Prince’, a mixed passenger/cargo Mobile data is the same. When In June 1975 I flew to Cape Town ship, which had been used to provide mobile phones were first active to board the next Union Castle cargo a service along the coast of British on St Helena, those that used ship to the island. In Cape Town I had Columbia, but was now laid up in dry “Pay-as-you-go” would carefully a stroke of luck. The senior partner dock in Vancouver. monitor how much data they used in the Peat Marwick office there was In due course, the UK government online or messaging. But soon, they wanted to be online 24/7. So they tried to get money for Top-up cards by asking others (sometimes strangers) “to send credit please.” This is not right. Having the privilege to go online via mobile data should be a reward rather than something to abuse. Once you’ve used up your data, take a break until you have the money to refill, or take advantage of the free internet after midnight. If you really need money or credit, work for it or save it better. Think of others who may never have enough money to overspend on ‘wants’ and then ask others for help paying for ‘needs’ (like bills). South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd., The Media Centre, Castle Gardens, Jamestown, St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean, STHL 1ZZ. Tel: 22727 E: [email protected], W: www.sams.sh THE SENTINEL | Thursday 01 March 2018 www.sams.sh 3 YOUR LETTERS launched a competition to appoint a on the waterfront in the capital, and tales of all she had seen and done company to be contracted to provide Jamestown, to watch the ship arrive. didn’t seem to do much in the way a service to St Helena and Ascension. In due course the ship’s general of convincing the more reluctant In considering how to respond, cargo capacity of 990 tons proved to of them, particularly those prone Curnow Shipping Limited found be too little to meet the needs of the to seasickness. The most taxing themselves in a Catch 22 situation. island and agreement was reached to part, though, was trying to find a They could not bid for the contract replace the ship with a new RMS ‘St convenient time for 14 people from without having a ship, but did not Helena’, built in the UK, which was four different family groups, and have the money to buy and convert launched in Aberdeen in 1989 and after having finally settled on a date the ship they had in mind i.e. the entered service in November 1990. the planned voyage was cancelled company was not able get a loan The ship has been in service for due to engine trouble. from the bank unless it was sure of 27 years. The first RMS was sold to Despite these challenges the date winning the contract. South African buyers but was not was eventually set, a voyage booked, Fortunately, Andrew Bell is a put to productive use and eventually and accommodation for a week on the determined and energetic person. went to India for scrap. I myself island arranged at the magnificent He managed to ‘square the circle’ by have made several journeys on the Princes Lodge, a colonial house persuading all parties that all was ‘second RMS ‘St Helena’, the most displaying the largest collection of well with his bid, and eventually recent in 2011,and was pleased to St Helena pictures and maps in the got a bank loan of £1 million to buy recall my own part in the origination world. the ship. In October 1977, Curnow of the service. Sea sickness tablets were bought, Shipping Limited was awarded the Eric Arnold boxes of dried foodstuff were contract to run the St Helena and packed, passports checked, and the Ascension shipping service. family were ready to go on what would become one of the greatest A VISIT TO REMEMBER adventures they had had together. July 2017 Getting to the island was part of the adventure itself – the RMS St Once upon a time there lived an Helena is a unique cargo-passenger old woman who loved adventures. ship that transports food, mail, She lived by herself in a tall narrow visitors, and the resident ‘Saints’ house, and every once and a while among other things. The family were she would take herself off on a new welcomed cheerfully on board and exploit to see what the world had to soon 7 children were racing along offer. passageways and up and down stairs Being especially partial to sea in an enthusiastic exploration of what cruises, she decided to join a group would be their home for the next 5 Eric in 2004 on the deck of the second RMS ‘St of friends who were off to explore days. Soon a routine was established Helena’ approaching the island. one of the remotest inhabited places for life at sea. Breakfast, board games/ Eric is a consultant with GIC limited, an on earth, the island of St Helena. activities in the lounge, on deck international consulting firm which has undertaken “Where’s that?” and “Why go competitions such as shuffleboard several advisory assignments relating to St Helena. there?” she was asked repeatedly and deck quoits, tea, movies, lunch, Eric Arnold [email protected] by friends and family alike.
Recommended publications
  • Geologists' Experience of St Helena
    www.sams.sh THE South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd. RMS COUNTDOWN Vol. 6,SENTINEL Issue 42 - Price: £1 “serving St Helena and her community worldwide” ThursdayL 25 January 2018 Geologists’ Experience of St Helena Researchers discuss their ‘ground- breaking’ work, and the significance of our island, as sampling concludes “The people on the island were all so very nice to us[...] the fact that everyone we spoke to was so interested in what we were doing, and so many people were really cooperating with us to make this fieldwork the very best possible, that is something that I couldn't have dreamed of.” ... page 7 Creative Also Inside... Saint Helena This Week’s One-off Extra Book Flight Lands Now on 5 Same day SEABED WORKER arrives in Bay Amazon Kindle World ARC Rally Stops Off ... page 11 at St Helena 6 Stays at James Bay 72 hours The RMS: From Beginning to End ... page 9 (25, 28) Remembering The Doctor 10 “St Helena’s greatest friend” Around the World in 80 Saints 12 Luke Stroud: Swindon Stand a chance to win a VALENTINE’S BALL TICKET from the GOD FATHERS ROCK CLUB, by buying and retaining this Sentinel. ... details on page 32 2 www.sams.sh Thursday 25 January 2018 | THE SENTINEL OPINION YOUR LETTERS Son Leroy and daughter Gemma of Hello sams, the late Deborah Ann Green would SENTINEL like to sincerely thank everyone who I would like to request an email contributed in anyway at the time of her friend resident on St Helena through death and the funeral service.
    [Show full text]
  • RMS St Helena
    Report on the investigation of the engine room fire on RMS St Helena 25 August 2000 Marine Accident Investigation Branch First Floor, Carlton House Carlton Place Southampton SO15 2DZ Report No 19/2001 Extract from The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999 The fundamental purpose of investigating an accident under these Regulations is to determine its circumstances and the causes with the aim of improving the safety of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future. It is not the purpose to apportion liability, nor, except so far as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose, to apportion blame. CONTENTS Page GLOSSARY SYNOPSIS 1 SECTION 1 - FACTUAL INFORMATION 2 1.1 Details of vessel and incident 2 1.2 Narrative 4 1.3 The vessel and her service 5 1.4 Engineering personnel 5 1.5 Manning arrangements 7 1.6 Standing orders 7 SECTION 2 - ANALYSIS 8 2.1 Engine inspections 8 2.2 Fire-fighting 8 2.3 Manning and certification 9 2.4 Engine room watch alarms 11 2.5 The Code of Practice 11 SECTION 3 - CONCLUSIONS 13 3.1 Findings 13 SECTION 4 - RECOMMENDATIONS 14 GLOSSARY BST - British summer time CP - Controllable pitch (propeller) GMDSS - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System ISM - International Safety Management (Code) kW - kilowatt MAIB - Marine Accident Investigation Branch MCA - Maritime and Coastguard Agency MCR - Machinery Control Room RMS - Royal mail ship rpm - Revolutions per minute SOLAS - Safety of Life at Sea (Convention 1974) UK - United Kingdom UMS - Unmanned machinery space UTC - Universal time co-ordinated SYNOPSIS At 0108 on 25 August 2000 the UK-registered Class I passenger ship, RMS St Helena, left Cardiff for Tenerife on the first leg of a voyage to the South Atlantic.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2014 RMS Celebrates 25Th Anniversary T Helena’S St Helena’S Royal Mail Ship Has Been in Service
    … An Extraordinary Place on a Path to Prosperity Issue 25 November 2014 RMS Celebrates 25th Anniversary t Helena’s St Helena’s Royal Mail Ship has been in service. beloved Rodney Captain Rodney Young and Governor RMS, Young has Capes unique to been Captain Sthe Island and one of the RMS of the last on-going for 14 years, vessels in the world since 25 carrying the title October Royal Mail Ship, 2000. was built in 1989. The Duke of York Prince Andrew Captain launched the Royal Mail Ship on 31 October that same Rodney year. Saints present that day were Mrs Gay Marr, Mrs Young gave a pic courtesy of SAMS Tara George, Mrs Marianne Musk and Captain Rodney proud speech Young. The RMS is the last known ship to be built in that evening saying: Aberdeen, Scotland by Hall Russell and Company. British “The RMS is very much part of the Island; it’s an registered, she has berths for a maximum of 156 extension of the Island. Whatever the plan following the passengers including 56 officers and crew. The RMS has completion of the Airport, the RMS St Helena crew is very been a passenger vessel for 25 years, and a labouring well trained and service orientated, they will be an asset ship carrying goods and people to and from destinations to St Helena as tourism develops.” Anchored in familiar such as Ascension and Cape Town. In previous years she St Helenian waters on Thursday evening, 30 October has also carried out voyages to Tristan da Cunha and to 2014, the Captain and crew held another celebration the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Rep Octs South Atlantic 2007.Pdf 732.41 KB
    European Commission EuropeAid Cooperation Office Framework contract Beneficiaries LOT 6 - Environment Country: Overseas Countries and Territories Project title: OCT Environmental Profiles Request for services no. 2006/12146 Final Report Part 2 - Detailed Report Section E - South Atlantic Region January 2007 Consulting Engineers and Planners A/S, Denmark PINSISI Consortium Partners PA Consulting Group, UK IIDMA, Spain ICON Institute, Germany Scanagri, Denmark NEPCon, Denmark INVESTprojekt NNC, Czech SOFRECO, France OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE PART 2 - Detailed Report Section A - South Atlantic region This study was financed by the European Commission and executed by the Joint-Venture of NIRAS PINSISI Consortium partners. The opinions expressed are those of the consultants and do not represent any official view of the European Commission nor the Governments of any of the overseas countries and territories or associated member states of the European Union. Prepared by: Jonathan Pearse Helena Berends Page 2 / 74 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS USED ACAP Agreement on Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels ACOR Association Française pour les Récifs Coralliens ACS Association of Caribbean States AEPS Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy AFL Aruba guilders AI Ascension Island AIG Ascension Island Government AIWSA Ascension Island Works & Services Agency AMAP Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme ANG Anguilla ANRD Agricultural & Natural Resources Department AOSIS Alliance of Small Island States APEC Asia–Pacific
    [Show full text]
  • SAINTS Spatial Identities of the Citizens of Saint Helena
    SAINTS Spatial identities of the citizens of Saint Helena Master’s thesis Human Geography University of Utrecht – the Netherlands By Maarten Hogenstijn Daniël van Middelkoop 1 SAINTS: SPATIAL IDENTITIES OF THE CITIZENS OF SAINT HELENA TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Where? ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Why? ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Central question .............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2 Theoretical framework ............................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Insularity ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Insularity and economy .............................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Insularity and peripherality......................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Insularity and social structure..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 8 – Carbon Emissions
    St Helena Airport Environmental Statement – Volume 2 8.0 CARBON EMISSIONS 8.1 INTRODUCTION This Chapter considers the carbon emissions associated with accessing St Helena by ship and by aircraft. Further details regarding the methodologies used, data sources, the assumptions and limitations, and the results are available in Appendix 8 in Volume 4 of the ES. 8.1.1 Overview Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2) have been calculated for a number of scenarios, with and without the proposed airport. This has allowed the CO 2 emitted per scenario and per passenger to be compared. Currently the island is accessed by ship from the UK, Cape Town or Walvis Bay (Namibia), or by RAF flight from the UK to Ascension (and then by ship to St Helena). Following completion of the proposed airport, it is unlikely to be possible to travel by ship as a passenger. There will be regular flights from South Africa to St Helena, and possibly from other countries. To undertake these emissions calculations and comparisons several assumptions have been made, these are detailed in the Section 8.2, Methodology. The significance of these assumptions is considered in the Section 8.3, Conclusions. Notably, only emissions of the key greenhouse gas CO 2 have been considered; emissions of other greenhouse gases have not been considered. Only emissions from aircraft and ships are considered, emissions from other sources, or emissions resulting from a potential increase in development on the island, are not considered. The following scenarios have been studied: Without St Helena Airport 1. Cape Town – St Helena (RMS St Helena) 2.
    [Show full text]
  • A Voyage to Remote
    sailing to the A Voyage To Remote ends of the earth Saint Helena Island ❧ It was around six in the morning when the island was first spotted, though fog and waves obscured most of its rocky face; if you strained, you could just make out the corners that sloped to the sea, and imagine the rest. There was a healthy group of us congregating at the bow, impressive considering the bacchanalia that had taken place the night before at the final party of the final voyage of the final British Royal Mail Ship. It was poetic in a certain way that after five days at sea, all of our anticipation and excitement was further postponed by the island of St. Helena refusing to reveal itself, somehow fitting that after seeing so much of history wash up against its imposing cliffs the island still insisted on keeping some aspect of itself secret to us and the world. We had all boarded the R.M.S. St. Helena for different reasons, some because their grandfathers had sailed to the island when employed by the Union Castle steamship line, others because of an interest in Napoleon‘s original final resting place, still others because of a fascination with the astronomer Edmund Halley, who set up an observatory there in 1676, before he discovered the comet that would be his namesake. Most of us however would probably have struggled to fully articulate the magnetic pull of the island and her boat, why we were drawn to the romance of experiencing the end of an era; why we often at the very last moment decided to book passage and leave our confused and slightly worried relations scratching their heads on shore; to explain what we were missing from our lives that drove us to the ends of the earth to find.
    [Show full text]
  • St Helena Airport Consultation Report
    CONSULTATION ON WHETHER AN AIRPORT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE OPTION FOR ACCESS TO ST HELENA IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE CONSULTATION REPORT Rosemary Stevenson Consultation Facilitator 1 CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 3 A. Introduction 6 Background 6 Options on which views are sought 6 B. Conducting the Consultation Exercise 7 How the consultation was carried out 7 Summary of the response: Numbers 9 Composition of respondents 9 C. Key Findings 12 Reactions to the Pause and the Consultation 12 Options: The Preferred Option 12 The Response to Option C 13 Impact: Impact on the Island and its Future 15 Impact on Individuals 18 D. Summary of Responses 20 Options and Impact 20 Any Additional Information or Proposals: Technical improvements 28 Financing Possibilities 29 Future sea-based access 29 Other Proposals 30 Annex 31 List of those who submitted written responses and list of meetings held 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The consultation, which ran from 9 April 2009 to 31 July 2009, concerned whether an airport is the most appropriate option for access to St Helena in the current economic climate. It was carried out in accordance with the criteria of the Government’s Code of Practice on Consultation. 2. The Government retendered the contract to design, build and operate an airport for the island in May 2007. Since then the financial climate has changed. The cost of the airport is considerably higher than anticipated, economic conditions in the UK demand review of short term spending priorities; and the value of the international development budget (from which financial support to the Overseas Territories is funded) has dropped in many countries, while urgent new pressures for aid have arisen.
    [Show full text]
  • Fares & Sailings
    FARES & SAILINGS ROYAL MAIL SHIP ST HELENA ST HELENA | ASCENSION | CAPE TOWN SEA FARES & ACCOMMODATION CABIN GRADES 4BO 2BI 2BO 2BOS 2BIW TBW T4 T4S T3 T2H T2HS T2 T2S T1 T1S SOLE USE SOLE USE NO. OF BERTHS FOUR TWO TWO TWO TWO THREE/ FOUR FOUR THREE TWO TWO TWIN TWIN TWO TWO BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH FOUR BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH BERTH DECK C DECK C DECK C DECK C DECK C DECK A/B DECK A DECK B DECK A DECK A DECK B DECK A/B DECK B DECK A DECK B DECK SEA FARES ASCENSION - ST HELENA £347 £373 £393 £410 £444 £444 £629 £629 £629 £629 £812 £874 £916 £1,070 £1,381 ASCENSION - CAPE TOWN £778 £834 £879 £918 £980 £980 £1,237 £1,263 £1,387 £1,743 £2,030 £2,192 £2,334 £2,964 £3,452 ST HELENA - CAPE TOWN £429 £462 £485 £508 £535 £535 £608 £633 £758 £1,114 £1,217 £1,316 £1,418 £1,895 £2,069 A & B DECK and Ascension Island other For South African Rand fares your own arrangements should TRANSFER OF BOOKING All cabins (except TBW) have passengers staying on the RMS please see our website you wish. If for some reason you need natural lighting, air conditioning will be charged £5.50 each way www.rms-st-helena.com to change your sea passage and private facilities. for boat trips ashore. If you do make your own booking to another sailing this ACCOMMODATION IN arrangements, please advise us can be done providing it is more TBW are interior cabins with Fares are subject to alteration ST HELENA & ASCENSION ISLAND where you will be staying so we than 45 days before originally private facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha
    St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha A Display given to The Royal Philatelic Society London by Members and Friends of the West Africa Study Circle Thursday 10 November 2016 St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha - Display to RPSL 10 November 2016 Plan of the Display Subject Exhibitor Frames St Helena - Pre-stamp History Stefan Heijtz FRPSL 1-5 St Helena - Forwarding Agents Mail & Cachets 1807-77 Stefan Heijtz FRPSL 6-8 St Helena - Queen Victoria Stamps Barry Burns FRPSL 9-13 St Helena - Early QV Postal History 1856-1883 Stefan Heijtz FRPSL 14-15 St Helena - Later QV Postal History 1884-1903 Stefan Heijtz FRPSL 16-17 St Helena - Instructional and Other Markings Stefan Heijtz FRPSL 18 St Helena - the Cork Cancellations Bernard Mabbett 19-20 St Helena - Anglo-Boer War Camp Censorship Barry Burns FRPSL 21-22 St Helena - the Anglo-Boer War Kevin Darcy 23-24 St Helena - the First Pictorial Stamps Alan Watson 25 St Helena - KGV 1912-1922 Bill Thorpe 26 St Helena - the KGV ‘Badge’ Issues Bill Thorpe 27-30 St Helena Miscellany Barry Burns FRPSL 31 St Helena Jeremy Martin FRPSL 32-33 St Helena Miscellany James Podger FRPSL 34 St Helena - QEII Mail Bernard Mabbett 35 Ascension Early Postal History Mike Brown FRPSL 36-37 Ascension - the KGV ‘Badge’ Issues Bill Thorpe 38-39 Ascension Mark Buckell 40-41 Ascension Island Mail - the Last 25 Years Graham Mytton 42-43 Ascension Jeremy Martin FRPSL 44-45 Ascension and St Helena Miscellany James Podger FRPSL 46-47 Tristan da Cunha - Postal History 1894-1919 Chris Rainey FRPSL 48 Tristan da Cunha -
    [Show full text]
  • Magical Voyages
    MAGICAL VOYAGES ROYAL MAIL SHIP ST HELENA ST HELENA | ASCENSION | CAPE TOWN AFRICA ASCENSION ST HELENA CAPE TOWN TAILOR MADE for you ccess to the remote British Overseas Before then, the Saints and the crew of the RMS Territory of St Helena has always St Helena invite you to be part of history, and to CONTENTS been exclusively by sea. From the experience a voyage on board this unique ship. three ships that first approached the Held in great esteem and affection by all those that 3 TAILOR MADE Aisland in 1502 to the Union Castle Liners that were have experienced her, a voyage on board the RMS once frequent visitors, today just one ship remains, St Helena will lead to life-long friendships and 5 LIFE ON BOARD and in this modern world in which we live, this will a sense that you have been part of a nostalgic period 7 ST HELENA ISLAND change. An airport is under construction and the of travel, where getting there is as much a part first flights are scheduled for early 2016 bringing of the holiday as the destination. 9 ASCENSION ISLAND a new generation of tourists to St Helena. The RMS St Helena carries just 156 passengers 10 THINGS TO KNOW and 55 crew in 56 good quality comfortable cabins. 12 THE ISLANDER Many combinations are available and this brochure sets out to give you a preview of just some of the 13 THE EXPLORER options. Our reservations teams in the UK and 14 THE CABINS South Africa can custom design your requirements providing you with a most memorable experience 16 DECK PLANS and holiday.
    [Show full text]
  • St Helena (To
    Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated islands – St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, including Gough Island ■ ST HELENA AND THE DEPENDENCIES OF ASCENSION ISLAND AND TRISTAN DA CUNHA, INCLUDING GOUGH ISLAND BEAU W. ROWLANDS Ascension Frigatebird Fregata aquila. (ILLUSTRATION: DAVE SHOWLER) GENERAL INTRODUCTION middle zone, 330–600 m, has an extensive vegetation cover of shrubs and grasses, but also some open ground. The humid zone, above St Helena is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom; 600 m, has a luxuriant plant cover that, in places, amounts to a Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, including Gough Island, cloud-forest, where introduced vegetation flourishes. This includes are administered as Dependencies of St Helena. Acacia, Alpinia, Araucaria, Bambusa, Buddleia, Erythrina, Eucalyptus, Ficus, Grevillia, Juniperus, Mangifera, Musa, Olea, ■ Ascension Island Pinus, Podocarpus and Psidium. Ascension is an isolated and relatively young oceanic island, lying The human population is about 1,000, made up of civilians some 100 km west of the mid-Atlantic Ridge, 1,504 km south-south- working for contractors to the RAF and USAF, and a small number west of Liberia (Cape Palmas), and 2,232 km from Brazil (Recife). of military personnel. The personnel are mainly from the UK, USA The nearest land is St Helena, 1,296 km to the south-east. Apart and St Helena, none of whom are permanent residents. User from a few beach deposits (shell-sand), the island is entirely volcanic organizations include the BBC World Service, Cable & Wireless in origin and has a rugged terrain. The relatively low and dry Communications plc, the RAF and the USAF, with their support western part is dominated by scoria cones and basaltic lava-flows, staff.
    [Show full text]