In a series of initiatives launched earlier this year, the British shipyard Harland & Wolff and the Falklands Government have announced a agreement to build a huge new port terminal on the islands which will allow the archipelago to improve the mooring of large ships, cruise ships, fishing vessels, scientific and international vessels en route to Antarctica.
It may also contain a possible hydrocarbon economy if the islands managed to exploit gas or oil.
In short, the new port terminal, the initial cost of which is set between 100 and 120 million pounds (almost 150 million dollars) It will compete strongly with the port of Ushuaia.
The modernization of the Fuegian terminal has been discussed for years without any agreement. The Malvinas port also introduces a new element of conflict with Argentina regarding its Antarctic policy.
On the other hand, the new port that will replace the old post-war structures integrates with the new environmental policies of London and the islanders who reject Argentina.
Moreover, the announcement that they will expand the marine protection area by 166,000 square kilometers, with no-fishing zones around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. This has put a strain on relations between the United Kingdom and Argentina, which issued a note of protest a few days ago against the new unilateral advance on the disputed lands and waters.
This is the second attempt at a deal after they attempted to move forward with Britain’s Bam Nuttall in 2020 for a reported £85 million. The negotiations therefore did not proceed.
A curiosity is that Hartland & Wolff, which is based in London but which in the case of the Malvinas port terminal will take over the Belfast office, is the emblematic shipyard that built the Titanic. The British liner sank in April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland. 1,496 people and the crew of 2,208 on board died.
The news regarding the island’s port, which required years of debate also because there were disagreements on costs and environmental impact, is that an agreement has been reached which is reflected in the company statement published by Clarín.
In several sessions the Extraordinary Executive Council (ExCo) approved two documents “to promote the replacement of Stanley port facilities”which the islanders call FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System).
The first document refers to negotiations to start work with a preferred development partner for the replacement of the maritime elements of the new port facility.
The tender for the advancement of the maritime works was launched in July 2023, without foreseeing the construction of the access road to the new port and the related causeway. Two offers were received and, following the tender committee’s recommendation to the project committee, ExCo was proposed as the preferred company to Harland & Wolff.
ExCo approval means authorized government officials can begin agreeing contract terms and work program with Harland & Wolff. This stage occurs before the formal contract award, allowing the so-called Fakland Islands Government to ensure that the design, schedule and costs are acceptable before ExCo is asked to approve a contract for delivery.
The approval of the second document in turn allows another tender for the access route and road. The location of the road and carriageway will be to the west of the current carriageway and will be constructed using existing designs and studies conducted by Bam Nuttal Ltd of the Royal Bam Group.
“Harland & Wolff built the six barges that line the current port facility more than forty years ago, demonstrating an important historical relationship with the Falkland Islands”we read in the press release.
Islands councilor Mark Pollard told reporters: “The port, along with the power station, is right at the top of our list of priorities as an Assembly. It is vital to the future of our economy. We look forward to tackling this issue long-standing, working with Harland & Wolff and the contractor of the access road and causeway.”
Source: Clarin
