GEO SEARCHER

The full index of our ship stamp archive
Post Reply
aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

GEO SEARCHER

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:56 pm

Tristan da Cunha issued in 2019 four stamps for the Rock Lobster Fisheries, two stamps have a vessel on it one with local fishing boats of which I have not much information, on the other is the GEO SEARCHER.
By the stamp issues is given:

Development of the Tristan Rock Lobster Fisheries
The lobster fishery is very important to Tristan, being the main source of income that supports the island community. The exceptional quality of the Tristan Lobster (Jasus tristani) means it is now on the menu of some of the finest restaurants in the world and used by many of the world's leading supermarkets.
Tristan has two distinct lobster fishing sectors:
Vessel-based: Operated by concession and using large ocean-going fishing vessels from Cape Town they fish around the three outer islands of Inaccessible, Nightingale and Gough Island. Catches are processed and frozen on-board the fishing vessels.
Island-based: Operated entirely by island fishermen and is restricted to Tristan da Cunha Island, using twelve 7-8m power-boats that deliver catches to the factory, on the island, for processing.

Commercial fishing at Tristan da Cunha for the rock lobster (Jasus tristani), known locally as crawfish, started in 1949. This was the result of "The Tristan Venture" an exploratory expedition held in 1948. The South Atlantic Islands Development Corporation (SAIDC) was then formed and granted sole rights to export lobster. In 1949, construction started on a canning plant on Tristan, which was operational by the end of 1950. From 1949 to 1961 all fishing was done in dinghies launched from the shore. Fishing of lobster was restricted to near the settlement until the mid-1950 when a motorboat was purchased to tow the dinghies around the island. In 1960, the canning factory closed and extra freezing capacity was installed.

In October 1961, the lava flow from a volcanic eruption destroyed the factory and the whole island was evacuated to the UK. The islanders returned in 1963 and rebuilt the factory in a different location. This was opened on 23rd May 1966. From 1965 larger motorboats gradually replaced the local fleet of dinghies.

Sustainable Fishing Measures
Size limits were introduced in the 1980s but a continuing decline in catches led to the introduction of Total Allowable Catches (TAC's) in 1991 and the Fisheries Department now recommends a TAC to the Island Council on an annual basis with Council approving the set TAC for the season. The Fisheries Department is responsible for the collection of fishing and catch information, issuing fishing licenses and ensuring the factory and fishing operations perform to the highest standard.

A new concession was granted to Ovenstone Agencies in 1997, including a set of regulations to govern the fishery. A major change in the fishery followed when restrictions on gear and boats, TAC's, a ban on taking egg-bearing females and seasonal closures were enforced.

On 13th February 2008 the current fish factory caught fire and burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt to EU specifications and was officially reopened on 17th July 2009.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified the fishery for J. tristani in 2011, implying that it had passed a stringent assessment of stock status, management efficiency and environmental impact. After many years, the Tristan Lobster fishery finally received approval to import into the EU in 2014, a major achievement.
Due to the remote location of the fishery, the lobsters are only available in a range of premium frozen formats, including whole cooked, whole raw, tails and a unique format the "sashimi grade" whole lobster.
The most important management measure for the Tristan Fishery has been the imposition of TACs for each island, introduced in 1991.
The improvements in sustainability of the fishery have brought with it a period of economic stability for Tristan da Cunha. Continuing the fishery in a sustainable and precautionary approach is a primary goal for Tristan da Cunha to both serve as a secure form of income for the Island and minimise the potential environmental impact of the fishery.

Stamp Design Details
35p - Local fishing motorboats tied up in Calshot Harbour
50p - Aerial view of the new fishing factory and current lobster packaging
£1.00 - New fishing vessel GEO SEARCHER whose maiden voyage was in April 2017
£2.00 - Tristan Rock Lobster (Jasus tristani) known locally as Crawfish
FDC- Crew of the MFV EDINBURGH fishing at the outer islands see: . viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9000

GEO SEARCHER: she was built as a research and survey vessel under yard No 122 by Salthammer Baatbyggeri at Vestnes, Norway for G.C. Rieber & Co. A/S, Bergen, Norway.
Launched as the POLAR KING.
Tonnage 1,548 grt, 353 net, 1,253 dwt, dim. 69.2 x 12.81 x 5.25m. (draught)
Powered by one MAK SM 452 AK diesel engine, hp?, speed 14 knots.
Accommodation for 43 persons.
Completed by T. Hellesoy, Lofallstrand under yard No 105.
May 1982 delivered to owners, IMO No 8028498. Norway flag and registry.

March 1984 transferred to Rieber Shipping A/S Bergen, not renamed.
April 1989 Sold to Eidesvik & Co. A/S Bømlo, Haugesund and renamed GEO SEARCHER.
May 1997 transferred to Eidesvik & Co. A/S (K/S Eidesvik & Co. A/S Bømlo) Haugesund.
July 1994 tonnage changed to 1,863 grt, 558 net.
After a few transfers to other Eidesvik companies she was registered under NIS flag.
2005 Refurbished.
March 2014 sold to Vestland Marine Seismic A/S (Vestland Marine Sp.z.oo) Nassau, Bahamas, underwent a refurbishment the same year.
March 2016 sold to Pegasus Shipping Ltd. (Vestland Marine Sp.z.oo) Gdynia, Poland, homeport Belize City, Belize.

On a yard in Poland she is refitted in a fishing vessel for lobster and the transport of lobsters from Tristan da Cunha to Cape Town.
After the refit she sailed for Cape Town were a lobster tank was installed. She is operated by Ovenstone Agencies, Cape Town and will be used as a passenger-cargo-fishing vessel between South Africa and Tristan da Cunha.
January 2017 she made her first voyage to Tristan da Cunha.
2019 In service, still under Belize flag and registry.

https://www.tristandc.com/shipgeosearcher.php http://www.miramarshipindex.nz and various internet sites. https://www.tristandc.com/po/stamps201903.php
Tristan da Cunha 2019 35p/£2.00 sg?, scott?
Attachments
geo searcher15april17.jpg
lobsters fishing-FDC.jpg
2019 local fishing boats.jpg
2019 lobsters fishing.jpg

D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
Posts: 871
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:46 pm

Re: GEO SEARCHER

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:44 pm

Lwl:61,02m. Depth:7.93m. 8 cyl. Krupp MaK diesel:2400 bhp. (1765 kW.)
(LR88/89)

Research ship GEO SEARCHER reported sinking, 62 crew abandoned the ship at around 1030 UTC Oct 15, 2020, about a mile off northern coast of Gogh Island, volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean, dependency of Tristan da Cunha. Judging from ship’s track, GEO SEARCHER was engaged in some research in island waters. Hopefully, all 62 crew and personnel managed to reach the shores.

https://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/1 ... -the-ship/

Tristan da Cunha 2020, £3, StG.?
Attachments
geo searcher.jpg
geo searcher + eiland.jpg

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: GEO SEARCHER

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Jan 31, 2021 9:06 pm

Attachments
2020-10-15-sinking-geo-searcher.jpg

Post Reply