The replacement vessel had 69 containers of fuel, food and medical supplies. The 6,767-ton St Helena was sailing from Cardiff when a crankshaft in its starboard engine broke in the Bay of Biscay on November 6. He said the repairs were expected to take up to 10 weeks. Bownes said the replacement ship was expected to reach St Helena by late Friday. St Helena has no airstrip.
All supplies come by sea.
Bownes said plans were in hand to bring home the 200 Saints stranded when the ship broke down. Its main export is canned and frozen fish. Copyright 1999 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.