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News of the building of a 21st Century Tristan Fishing Factory

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Tristan da Cunha's Fishing Factory was gutted by fire on the night of 12th / 13th February 2008
This page provides background to the importance of Tristan's fishing industry and will
catalogue the building of a 21st Century Tristan da Cunha Fishing Factory
For details of the Factory Fire and its aftermath - see Factory Fire News Page
1st Factory destroyed by lava - 2nd Factory destroyed by fire
The original fishing factory, situated on Big Beach was totally destroyed by the lava flow from the 1961 volcanic eruption. The modern factory was built on a plateau above the new Calshot Harbour in 1965 and opened in time for for the first fishing day on 23rd May 1966. See pictures and information on the factory in our Background of the Fishing Factory Feature below and also on our Fishing and Fishing News pages for more about Tristan's Fishing Industry.

Photograph of the fish processing factory
on a plateau above Calshot Harbour before the 2008 fire

Photograph from Desiree Repetto taken
on the morning of Thursday 13th February 2008
This is a top to bottom page - to go to the Latest News Bulletin or scan from the beginning below ...
Building a 21st Century Tristan da Cunha Fishing Factory

Factory Building Update
From a report produced by Andrew James (Ovenstones) to the Tristan Island Council in May 2008

Tristan Da Cunha New Factory
featuring :
Portal Frame Construction; Aluminium Sheeting; Designed to withstand: a wind speed of 100 knots and seismic activities up to 7.5 on the Richter Scale; Modular design for ease shipping and erection

New Factory Design
The overall design of the new factory and power plant has been finalised and the general layout is shown in plans which we hope to first publish in the August 2008 newsletter. Detailed layout of the factory is a work in progress and Ovenstones are awaiting the return of Manager Erik McKenzie to Cape Town for his final input into the detailed design and layout.

The new factory will be considerably simpler in layout and far more efficient from a processing perspective. The factory is designed to be EU compliant in consultation with the SABS (subject to the Government putting in place the regulatory infrastructure the fish product from the factory should then gain access to EU markets).

The factory and power plant structures have been designed with Tristan’s environment in mind. They have been designed to withstand wind forces of 100 knots and seismic events up to 7.5 on the Richter Scale.

The company have designed very sturdy, fit for the purpose, buildings that will serve the Island and lobster operation for many years to come – well beyond Ovenstone’s current horizon of 2016. We look forward to being able to utilise the buildings for some time to come!

Anchor Steel
Anchor Steel has been contracted for the design (completed) manufacture (in progress) and erection of the structures. This company specialises in the modular design and construction of steel portal and aluminium clad structures, often in very remote locations with limited infrastructure.

Anchor Steel is a specialist steel construction company with a relatively small highly skilled team well suited to offshore building erection, fast track projects and the capability of steel erection without large on-site cranes. Previous projects have included those across Africa, UK and Saudi Arabia. •

Power Plant
The power plant facility is separated from the factory. Although this is a more expensive option for Ovenstone, they believe it is the right long term choice to make. The plan shows 4 generator units, as this was drawn on the basis of the CTBTO proposal tabled in Cape Town in April 2008.

Status ~ The following plant and materials have been ordered:
Steel for factory and power plant; Aluminium cladding material; Concrete for foundations and flooring; 2 x 350 KVA Volvo generator sets and associated electrical panels and boards

These initial orders have been placed due to repeated and dramatic price increases for these items. For instance steel prices have increased by more than 32 % in 2008. Similarly, due to the electricity generation shortfall in South Africa , generator prices have increased 50 % in the last year.

Schedule
Whilst Ovenstones are making good progress in the factory design and purchasing of plant and materials, we face major logistical challenges in

~ Transport of all plant, equipment and materials to the Island.
~ Landing of plant, equipment and materials at the Island without any heavy lift (5 ton plus) facility.

These two issues will have a major influence on the rebuilding schedule.

  • The recent run of very poor weather at Tristan has also pushed out the Edinburgh dry dock. This may influence this vessel’s schedule in June and August, although Ovenstones will do what they can to mitigate this.

    All the above considered, the rebuilding schedule has been pushed out for a spring start in September/October, rather than in July 2008. The objective remains to have the factory commissioned and ready for operation for the start of the 2009/10 season on 1 July 2009, but everyone must be made aware that there is a significant risk that this target deadline may not be met due to the logistical challenges caused by the loss of the crane.

    The Power Plant is planned to be commissioned during the 4 th quarter of 2008, subject, again, to there being a crane facility to lift the heavy items (gen sets) ashore, that are in excess of the company crane lift capacity.

    The project to design and replace the Government crane is being run in parallel with the Factory rebuilding project. Both Ovenstone and project managers are using their best endeavours to assist the Tristan Government to replace the crane within the envisaged rebuild time frame.

    From a report produced by Andrew James (Ovenstones) to the Tristan Island Council May 21st 2008

    • Background to Tristan da Cunha's Fish Processing Factory see also Fishing and Fishing News Pages

    The importance of Fishing to Tristan's Economy
    Tristan da Cunha's fishing industry has been the mainstay of a largely self-supporting economy since 1949 when the first canning factory was built on Big Beach. It was totally destroyed during the 1961 volcanic eruption, engulfed by lava which, as well as destroying the buildings also ignited 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
    The modern factory is operated by Ovenstones Pty Ltd and provided the hub of the local fishing industry. Tristan da Cunha waters are fished entirely by Islanders who go out from Calshot Harbour in the season (July - December or January) in small power boats on fine days. The catch of Crawfish (also known as Crayfish and marketed as Tristan Rock Lobster), is brought back to the Tristan Factory, where is it processed and frozen for export. MV Edinburgh also carries out extended fishing trips around the outer islands of Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough. The fishery is expertly managed and a strict quota system has ensured a sustainable harvest.
    There are a group of permanent factory employees, but this small group is swollen on fishing days by men (and from 2007 one woman apprentice) who are permitted to switch from their Government employment, to work for the factory. The factory also employs many Islanders who work part-time on fishing days to process the fish. The island community benefits from wages paid to locals, by royalties from the sale of crawfish, from electricity generated by the factory's diesel generators (24/7 in recent years) and by the provision of nine scheduled sailings from Cape Town by the vessels MV Edinburgh and MV Kelso, which gives the island its transport lifeline for people and goods.

    Left :
    The fish processing factory
    situated above Calshot Harbour and linked by Puma Road
    Right:
    All hands - Many Islanders have full-time or part-time employment in the factory
    which is the mainstay of the local economy.
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    Published by the Tristan da Cunha Government and the Tristan da Cunha Association. Copyright © 2008 and all Rights Reserved.
    This page first published February 2008