NAVY NEWS, MAY 2008 9
Zest for life
T
HE remote island of Tristan da almost any construction task.
Cunha in the midst of the South As winter in the southern
Atlantic Ocean enjoyed a massive hemisphere drew on, conditions
influx of military personnel when became tougher for the military
sailors, soldiers and airmen arrived teams working on the island, and
at its shores to repair the island’s even though the work was completed
damaged main harbour. by March 25, poor weather delayed
Landing ship RFA Lyme Bay carried the recovery of the final people and
more than just men and women out equipment for several days.
to the remote island, she bore 400 Work complete, Lyme Bay headed
tonnes of cement from the UK to mix to South Africa’s Cape Town where
with the islanders’ own ready supply the majority of the Op Zest task force
of crushed volcanic rock to make the personnel boarded aircraft to return
concrete to rebuild the harbour. by the quick route to the UK.
Operation Zest was despatched Capt McAlpine said: “Op Zest has
with speed to the island in early been a complete success.
February to shore up the island with “It was a small, unique, classically
emergency repairs before winter joint operation. Five comparatively
weather could bring all possibility of disparate groupings – a squadron of
work to a halt. Royal Engineers, a brand new Royal
Tasks included reinforcing the Fleet Auxiliary vessel, medics from
western breakwater with a large across the Armed Forces, a 17 Port
concrete slab, construction of a 20m and Maritime Detachment and a
wave wall, replacing the ‘nib’ – a short command team from Fleet – quickly
outcrop in the harbour used to shelter gelled into a cohesive team that
boats and a dredging platform, and worked effectively to complete the
repairing a void in the quay wall. mission in 11 weeks.
Once the Task Force arrived in “It has been a very rare privilege
early March they began the work to work with and live alongside the
of rebuilding the harbour, under the Tristanians and our memories of their
command of Naval officer Capt Paddy hospitality and their island will linger
McAlpine. long in our minds.”
The small island’s population The island is a UK overseas
boomed from its customary 270 with territory, and a dependency of St
the arrival of the 150-strong team Helena, which lies 1,350 nautical miles
of men and women from the Royal to the north.
Fleet Auxiliary 17 Port and Maritime David Morley, the Foreign and
Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, 34 Commonwealth Office appointed
Field Squadron (Air Support) Royal Island Administrator, said: “The work
Engineers, and medics, both reservist that the Joint Task Force has carried
and regular. out has saved our harbour, and we are
The Bay-class Royal Fleet Auxiliary incredibly grateful.
offered an unparalleled platform for “Not only have they worked long
the essential work on the island, and hard hours without a complaint,
offering accommodation, storage, they have created a real bond with the
dock, cranes and communications. community who have taken them to
Expertise in shifting heavy their heart.
equipment from ship to shore came in “Tristan Islanders have long
the form of the 17 Port and Maritime memories and the wonderful
Detachment. relationship created between them
And the Royal Engineers are justly and the Op Zest Joint Task Force will
famed for their ability to take on remain for years.”
Picture: LA(Phot) Kelly Whybrow
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