Stanley troops get hotel for Christmas

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 21

Stanley troops get hotel for Christmas

Christmas in Port Stanley will be a lot more comfortable for 900 British soldiers with the arrival of a fivestorey, 60-fobt high floating hotel, complete with a wellstpcked -I)ar and a Swedish Chrisimas, f tree. Fifty workmen put the finishing touches to the hotel in a dry dock in the Swedish west coast port of Gothenburg and the journey to the Falklands began on November 18. A converted tanker, the Fern Carrier, was “sunk” in Gothenburg harbour and the hotel floated into place over it. Water was then pumped out of the tanker which rose to the surface carrying the hotel, piggy-back style. The hotel, was then fastened to the deck and started its three-week voyage to Port Stanley, accompanied" by four Defence Ministry officials. The operation was carried out by the Swedish firm, Consafe, makers of prefabricated module accommodation for offshore oilworkers. “We heard about the problems of, accommodating troops in the Falklands and made contact with the Ministry of Defence in August,” bne of the firm’s directors, Lars G. Larsson, said. “The great advantage of our hotel will be that it can be moved to wherever it is needed.

“Initially it will be moored in Port Stanley harbour for Christmas. We shall provide the Christmas tree, but the army will have to supply Santa Claus!” The hotel, Safe Dominia, is built on a 300 ft x 60ft base and floats in just 12 feet of water. “It can,, be moved wherever it is needed in the islands. I am sure the troops will find it a great improvement from the tents many of them have been sleeping la They’ll be very comfortable,” Larsson said. The accommodation comprises 450 two-bed cabins. An extra two storeys have been added to meet Defence Ministry requirements: The hotel has been chartered by the Army for three years With an option for an extension. The Army has also ordered 54 prefabricated houses from the Swedish company; l Myresjohus, in the central town of Nassjo. The firm won the contract after stiff competition from 30 British companies because of its experience in building homes that can withstand extreme cold. The order is worth more than $1.6 million . and includes training six British carpenters in assembly tech? niques in Nassjo.—Copyright, London Observer. Service.

From CHRIS MOSEY in Stockholm