Tristan : GENERAL INFORMATION FOR VESSELS VISITING TRISTAN DA CUNHA
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 11.01.2007 (Current Article)

Conrad Glass outlines information for people who want to visit Tristan da Cunha.

GOVERNMENT OF TRISTAN DA CUNHA

                                                                                                    Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

 South Atlantic Ocean

 TDCU 1ZZ              

 (Via Cape Town, RSA)

                                                                                         Tel: +44 (0)20 3014 2000

                                                                                         Fax: +44(0)20 3014 2020

           tdcenquiries@stratosnet.com

www.tristandc.com

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR VESSELS VISITING TRISTAN DA CUNHA

A.  Arrivals and Landings

Contact Point

  as shown.

Tristan Radio

2.         Tristan Radio acts as a coastal radio station and port control.  Visiting vessels should establish contact prior to arrival & during their stay, and advise ETD/proposed destination before departure. Operating channels: VHF 14/16.  HFSSB 4149/6230/8282mhz. 

Clearance on Arrival

3.         Those vessels which have not made advance arrangements to call at Tristan must obtain prior clearance from the Harbourmaster, Medical Officer and Immigration Officer before anchoring or disembarking passengers or crew.  Communications can be established via Tristan Radio on VHF channel 16.

Anchorage

4.         All visiting vessels should seek advice from the Harbourmaster on a safe anchorage position (GPS: Lat 37 03.10S/Long 12 18.60W or Lat 37 03.04S/Long 12 17.85W) in the open anchorage below the Settlement (max depth 100m – 50m due to shelving bottom).

5.         To comply with wildlife conservation measures, visiting vessels are not permitted to anchor overnight off Gough, Inaccessible or Nightingale Islands.

Harbour Access

6.         Refurbishment works are planned (2007-09) to deepen Calshot Harbour and extend the breakwaters.  Currently, it is too shallow for most boats: maximum depth to the top of the landing steps at low tide is 1.3m. Recommended means of disembarking cruise ship passengers is by Zodiac RIB craft, carried by all visiting vessels.

Harbour Closures

7.         The Harbour is normally closed to visiting vessels after 1900 GMT in summer (1 Oct – 31 March) and after 1700 GMT in winter (1 April – 30 Sept).  It is also closed to visitors during early mornings and late afternoons on fishing days, and at other times at the Harbourmaster’s discretion, to permit local boat operations

Immigration & Customs Clearance

8.         The Visits Liaison Officer will arrange for an official party to board visiting vessels and complete local clearance procedures prior to the disembarkation of passengers or crew.  For visiting cruise ships, a charge of £100 is made for this.

9.         There is a ban on the import without a permit of any live or dead animals or plants.

Landing Fee

10.       No visas are required.  All visitors must hold a valid passport and obtain permission to land by having a landing stamp inserted in their passport.  (Landing stamps may also be issued to passengers and crew not intending to go ashore, but who wish their travel document to be endorsed as a souvenir of the visit).  Current landing stamp charges are:

(*Inaccessible and Gough Islands are World Heritage Sites, and landings are restricted for environmental and wildlife conservation reasons).

Medical Insurance & Waivers

11.       All cruise ship passengers must sign an accident waiver (Passenger Indemnity Declaration) form before coming ashore, and all visitors to Tristan must have adequate travel insurance to cover the costs of any medical treatment including, if required, the costs of medical evacuation to Cape Town.  Current medical/dental charges for all non-residents are:

Ship/Shore Transfers

12.       Visiting vessels are expected to use their own boats if suitable for use in the shallow harbour.  Otherwise a local small dingy (£15) can be hired by a visiting yacht, and a ferry boat and crew (£200) for a visiting cruise ship.  The Immigration/Police boat is not usually available for hire except by prior approval from the Administrator and Head of Police Dept.

Passengers/Crew remaining on board

13.       Subject to prior approval from the vessel concerned, the Visits Liaison Officer will arrange for an official group to come aboard to sell a range of postage stamps and souvenirs to those passengers and crew not going ashore.  Permission may also be sought for a party of local schoolchildren to tour the visiting vessel.

14.       If weather or sea conditions prevent the disembarkation of passengers, but still permit operations by local boats, the Visits Liaison Officer may arrange for an official group to board to sell postage stamps & souvenirs.

B.  Guides, Tours & Activities

Fishing Permits

15.       Prior permission is required for any fishing activities in Tristan waters. Applications to permit recreational fishing by passengers or crew during the period of the vessel’s visit should be submitted to Head of Natural Resources Department.  Licences issued will be subject to certain conditions which must be strictly observed.  A licence fee of £50 will be charged for visiting cruise ships.

Golf

16.       The Visits Liaison Officer can arrange for the hire of clubs and for a caddy to be available if required.  Golf Club membership certificates (£10) and score cards (£1) are available for purchase from the Administration Office during office hours.

Taxi Hire

17.       Local vehicles and drivers are available for hire at passengers’ risk for trips between the Settlement and the Patches.  (No insurance is available to permit self-drive hire).  The current charge for a return trip is £5 per passenger.

Boat Trips

18.       Weather conditions permitting, local boats are available for hire for offshore fishing, or for trips around Tristan or to Nightingale Island.  The current charge is £15 per passenger.  The Government launch or barge is also available for group hire at a current charge of £50 per day plus local guide costs.

Walks & Climbs

19.       The walk to the Patches takes about 30 minutes along a tarmac road.  A walk, with a local guide, to the summit of the 1961 volcano also takes about 30 minutes.  A climb to the Base, or to the Peak must be arranged in advance with the Visits Liaison Officer.

Local Guides

20.       For their own health and safety, and for wildlife conservation reasons, visitors must be accompanied by a local guide for any trips on Tristan away from the Settlement/Patches area, or for landings on, or zodiac trips around, the other Islands.  Current guide fees (which include a £4 contribution per visitor to the government’s Conservation Fund) are as follows:

Local Guides – Cruise Ship Visits to Nightingale

21.       Vessels wishing to land passengers at Nightingale Island, or to conduct Zodiac trips around Nightingale or Inaccessible, must first call at Tristan to obtain clearance and embark local guides at ratio of one guide to 8 participating passengers.  In the case of landings, each guide will be in charge of a landing party.  The Visits Liaison Officer or nominee aboard the vessel will act as operations co-ordinator and advise on whether the proposed activities should proceed depending on weather or sea conditions.  If cancelled for any reason, each guide is to receive a payment of £20 to compensate for loss of earnings.  Guides must be returned to Tristan before nightfall.

C.  Information for Visitors

Local Time & Office Hours

22.       Local time is GMT.  All Government Departments, including the Island Store, are open: Mon/Thursday 0800-1230 & 1330-1600 (0830-1630 in winter), Friday 0800-1300 (0830-1430 in winter).

Church Services

23.       Both the Anglican (St Mary’s - 0800) and Catholic (St Joseph’s - 0900) Churches have regular Sunday services to which visitors are welcome.

Post Office & Mail

24.       The Post Office is open during office hours, and at additional times during cruise ship visits, and sells a range of stamps, postcards and philatelic collectors items.  Any mail sent ashore from a visiting vessel for posting on Tristan must be stamped or accompanied by sufficient funds to cover postage costs.  Because of the limited shipping services, mail posted from Tristan can take some months to arrive at the overseas destination.

Museum & Handicrafts

25.       The Museum & Craft Shop opens Wednesdays 1400-1530 and at additional times during cruise ship visits or by prior arrangement.  Handicrafts may also be displayed for sale at the Café, Prince Philip Hall Community Centre, the Post Office, the Island Store, and in some local homes.

Refreshments

26.       The Café, and the Albatross Bar at Prince Philip Hall, are open during cruise ship visits to offer a range of alcohol and other drinks, together with light refreshments.  Soft drinks and light refreshments may also be available at the Museum.  Hot meals are sometimes served at Prince Philip Hall (menus displayed in advance).  A range of food and drink items are also available for purchase at the Island Store, which has sufficient stocks for all visitors.

Tristan Lobster

27.       Available only from the Factory - please contact the Factory Manager.

Toilets

28.       Public toilets are located adjacent to the Café, in Prince Philip Hall, and below the Council Chamber in the Administration Building.

Foreign Currency/Credit Cards

29.       Local currency is the UK pound sterling.  Credit Cards and personal cheques are not accepted.  Travellers Cheques and Euro/Dollars/Rand may be exchanged at the Treasury in the Administration Building during office hours.

Remittances

30.       Fee payments may be made via the UK marked:

‘For the credit of the Tristan da Cunha Administration, Crown Agents General Account Number 33870050’

            Bank:                          HSBC plc, London

            SWIFT:                        MIDLGB22

            Sort Code:                   40-63-59

            Account Name:            Crown Agents Bank

            Account Number:         41275925

IBAN:                          GB76MIDL40025041275925

Website

www.tristandc.com.