Tristan da Cunha Gough Island News

Geo Searcher makes maiden voyage to Gough Island

Report and photos from Tristan Administrator Sean Burns

MV Geo Searcher arrives at Gough on 19th April 2017

Ian Lavarello, Marina and I were delighted to be invited to join the Geo Searcher on her first run to Gough. We left here on Tuesday 18th April 2017 following the Island Council meeting with Andrew James where we reviewed the Ovenstone annual report and the concession agreement.

We arrived on the morning of 19th April when the three of us were able to get ashore with a new member of the Gough team who had come on the Geo Searcher from Cape Town. It was great to meet the teams from the Tristan Conservation Department/RSPB and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Both are doing really important work on the island. David and Em are working on a number of projects related to the Tristan albatross, shearwaters, petrels, seals, penguins, sagina and a whole lot more. They are clearly passionate about their work and doing a fanatastic job in challenging circumstances. The SAWS team are doing really important meteorological work that informs the weather forecasting across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond in to the Indian Ocean and the sub continent. It was fascinating to hear all about their work.

Ian and I also made an inspection of the base, which we will report on separately.

We were all vey grateful for the hospitality shown by the team. Many thanks all for looking after us so well. Much appreciated.

The weather delayed our return to the vessel but when we did we were then able to see for oursleves the Geo Searcher in action. When we got back on to the vessel it was great that the feedback from the Ovenstone team and our own observers that the vessel had perfomred really well in terms of the new operation.

We were all very impressed with the new vessel both in terms of the operation and the accommodation and facilities on board. The Ovenstone team has done a great job and we look forward to joining her again soon.

	Left: Fishing boat launched by crane from MV Geo Searcher during fishing trials off Gough Island on 19th April.
Crane hoist in use to come ashore at the Gough Base on 20th April	Marina Burns helps to launch a weather balloon from the Gough Base
Marina Burns with members of the resident Gough Team at the base.	Sean Burns with members of the resident Gough Team at the base.
MV Geo Searcher off Gough on 20th April
Sean and Marina Burns at the Gough Base on 20th April with the magnificent Gough interior behind.
Sean and Marina Burnhs with Ian Lavarello at the Gough Base prior to departure on 23rd April.
	Departing Gough on 23rd April: Left: The lift to an awaiting MV Geo Searcher fishing boat; Above: Waving goodbye.
Back to Geo Searcher on 23rd April.	Final view of Gough as Geo Searcher departs on 24th April.
MV Geo Searcher departs the home of the Tristan Albatross - A Tristan Albatross soars alongside the vessel as it departs Gough on 24th April.
Sean and Ian with Rodney Green and Warren Glass who served as Fishery Observers during the trip.	Back home: The Gough party return to Tristan's Calshot Harbour on 26th April after a successful maiden voyage to Gough Island aboard MV Geo Searcher which can be seen anchored off shore.