Retrieval mission in Falklands

A Timaru-based fishing vessel has arrived in the Falklands off the coast of Argentina to retrieve 15 Kiwi fishermen stranded there because of the Covid-19 outbreaks.

‘‘It’s good to be here,’’ John Bennett, the Nelson skipper of the San Aotea II, said as the vessel arrived yesterday.

The San Aotea II left Timaru on June 5 to retrieve crew from the San Aspiring but the journey across the Southern Ocean had taken longer than expected due to the weather, Sanford general manager corporate communications Fiona Macmillan said.

‘‘Both the San Aspiring and the San Aotea are berthed together now at Port Stanley,’’

‘‘It’s good to be here.’’

John Bennett

Skipper of the San Aotea II

she said. ‘‘They have begun unloading stores and packing off the San Aotea for the San Aspiring.’’

The San Aspiring had been fishing for toothfish off the coast of South America and some crew had been at sea for more than 140 days due to travel disruptions caused by Covid-19.

The ship has been in the Falklands since June 25 New Zealand time.

‘‘They have had very cold weather there and snow, but nothing that has interfered with their discharging and with getting divers down to do standard checks of the hull,’’ Macmillan said.

Shane Cottle will skipper the San Aotea on its return voyage to New Zealand, while Bennett takes over the San Aspiring with fresh crew, and a few of the old crew who have volunteered to stay on, to complete the fishing season, Macmillan said.

‘‘A small number of the San Aspiring crew who left New Zealand in February have agreed to stay on,’’ she said. ‘‘One who had originally offered now has issues with a wisdom tooth and needs to come home.’’

The San Aotea will come back to New Zealand as soon as all checks and loading are complete, which is expected to be midnight on July 2 New Zealand time.

‘‘They know the weather will be challenging on the way back, but they are ready for that,’’ Macmillan said.

‘‘It will likely take longer to get back as they are going against the weather and currents, but that’s to be expected.’’

BEJON HASWELL/STUFF, SUPPLIED Skipper John Bennett, of Nelson, with the San Aotea before his mission to the Falklands. Left, crew on the San Aspiring in South Georgia last month.