Queue for the Falkland Islands speeds up
Long queues of passengers waiting to embark and disembark are a thing of the past in Port Stanley thanks to a new bespoke access facility designed and manufactured by Walcon Marine.
Over 80,000 visitors arrive at Port Stanley during the October and March tourist season each year, with the largest cruise ships capable of bringing up to 4,000 visitors at a time.
The Falkland Islands Maritime Authority (FIMA) had wanted to replace the previous floating jetty for some time. Both the structure, built originally for domestic use, and its location were inadequate.
Walcon Marine was brought on board to create a safe and stable facility that would be long enough to accommodate four tenders (two on each side), each 10 to 14 metres in length and capable of carrying up to 100 passengers. It also had to be safe and efficient; able to move passengers between the tenders and the shore as rapidly as possible. The requirement was the supply of commercial-grade pontoons with non-slip decking and Kee-Klamp handrails, with many of the visitors being of retirement age.
“The new finger pontoon installation adjacent to the public jetty has been a huge improvement for the safety of its users,” says Steuart Barlow, Harbour Master, FIMA. “…the pontoon has been proven to be very stable with minimal movement. The addition of a central handrail is an added safety measure which provides users greater confidence.
“The widened gangway provides easy access when transferring patients. For single ship tendering operations, it provides the tender coxswain an option to use either the East or West side of the pontoon during times of challenging weather.”
The new equipment was fabricated at Walcon Marine’s factory in Hampshire, UK, and the units loaded at Southampton. The voyage took 30 days, arriving in Port Stanley after an 8,400 nm journey.
The installation was completed by a local contractor in September 2024, in time for the start of what is turning out to be a very busy cruise season.
Exhibitor; Walcon Marine
Over 80,000 visitors arrive at Port Stanley during the October and March tourist season each year, with the largest cruise ships capable of bringing up to 4,000 visitors at a time.
The Falkland Islands Maritime Authority (FIMA) had wanted to replace the previous floating jetty for some time. Both the structure, built originally for domestic use, and its location were inadequate.
Walcon Marine was brought on board to create a safe and stable facility that would be long enough to accommodate four tenders (two on each side), each 10 to 14 metres in length and capable of carrying up to 100 passengers. It also had to be safe and efficient; able to move passengers between the tenders and the shore as rapidly as possible. The requirement was the supply of commercial-grade pontoons with non-slip decking and Kee-Klamp handrails, with many of the visitors being of retirement age.
“The new finger pontoon installation adjacent to the public jetty has been a huge improvement for the safety of its users,” says Steuart Barlow, Harbour Master, FIMA. “…the pontoon has been proven to be very stable with minimal movement. The addition of a central handrail is an added safety measure which provides users greater confidence.
“The widened gangway provides easy access when transferring patients. For single ship tendering operations, it provides the tender coxswain an option to use either the East or West side of the pontoon during times of challenging weather.”
The new equipment was fabricated at Walcon Marine’s factory in Hampshire, UK, and the units loaded at Southampton. The voyage took 30 days, arriving in Port Stanley after an 8,400 nm journey.
The installation was completed by a local contractor in September 2024, in time for the start of what is turning out to be a very busy cruise season.
Exhibitor; Walcon Marine
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