The Task Force, mobilised at short notice, set sail for the island in early February and, following a stop in Cape Town to collect supplies, arrived in Tristan da Cunha a few weeks later. The work, which consisted of four separate tasks, began in early March 2008.

     (c)MOD The Men gathered for one final farewell at the harbour they repaired

The tasks included reinforcing the western breakwater with a large concrete slab; construction of a 20 metre 'wave wall' from 2.5 tonne blocks, reinforced with Hesco Bastion and tied together with stainless steel; the replacing of the 'NIB', a short outcrop in the harbour used to provide shelter for unloading boats and as a point to dredge the harbour floor; and carry out repairs to fill a void in the quay wall. In addition to these four construction tasks, all of the aggregate for the concrete had to be locally won and crushed, a dirty and unpleasant task. Working with unreliable and dangerous machines over 600m3 of aggregate was produced.

(c) St Helena Herald - Now at St. Helena, H. E. the Governor Mr Gurr congratulates crew and men for a job well done.

The Task Force itself comprised the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Lyme Bay, a 20-strong detachment from 17 Port & Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, 46 Royal Engineers from 34 Field Squadron (Air Support), a number of medics from across the Armed Forces both regular and reservists and a small command team from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Headquarters.

RFA Lyme Bay’s unique capabilities (storage, dock, cranes, accommodation and communications) meant she was the ideal vessel from which to base the small, bespoke military team. 17 Port & Maritime Detachment are proven experts at getting heavy equipment from a ship lying offshore to the land and the Royal Engineers incorporate all the skills required to achieve almost any construction task. In addition the Armed Forces medical staff offered extensive and highly mobile medical care.

The Military Construction Force prepare the Wave Wall for concrete pouring
 With the onset of winter, conditions became more unsettled and short periods of low swell were used to re-embark redundant military plant and stores as each of the repair tasks developed. Although the last of the emergency repairs were complete on 25 March 2008, poor weather closed Calshot Harbour and the final equipment, stores and personnel were not recovered to RAF Lyme Bay until several days later. She then set sail for Cape Town, from where the majority of the Op ZEST JTF personnel were able to fly back to the UK. A small contingent has remained on board for the ship’s three-week passage to the UK.

(c) St Helena Herald: The RFA Lyme Bay as seen from Two Gun Saddle above Jamestown on St. Helena

Captain Paddy McAlpine, the Joint Task Force Commander, said: "Op ZEST has been a complete success. It was a small, unique, classically joint operation. Five comparatively disparate groupings (a squadron of Royal Engineers, a brand new Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, medics from across the Armed Forces (Regular and Reservists), a 17 Port & Maritime Detachment and a command team from FLEET) quickly gelled into a cohesive team that worked effectively together to complete the mission in 11 weeks.

"It has been a very rare privilege to work with and live alongside the Tristanians and our memories of their hospitality and their island will linger long in our memories."

David Morley, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office-appointed Island Administrator said of the Task Force's efforts: "The work that the Joint Task Force has carried out has saved our harbour and we are incredibly grateful. Not only have they worked long and hard hours without a complaint they have created a real bond with the community who have taken them to their heart. Tristan Islanders have long memories and the wonderful relationship created between them and the Op ZEST Joint Task Force will remain for years."

Calshot Harbour after completion of the temporary repairs The UK Overseas Territory of Tristan de Cunha is a roughly circular island at the southern end of a chain of islands that form part of the mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is 1,750 nautical miles (3,241km) southwest of Cape Town and is a dependency of the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, which lies 1,350 nautical miles (2,500km) to the north.

Tristan de Cunha is a near-perfect volcanic cone, truncated by steep sea cliffs around most of its circumference. Rising over 3.5km from the ocean floor to St Marys Peak at 2,060m above sea level, it is home to 270 people, all located in the single settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas; it is the world’s most remote community.