Sep 03 - Environment Department Expands with New Research and Monitoring Vessel
Minister for the Environment, Dr. John Cortes, today unveiled the Department of the Environment’s newest asset, a ten metre cabin cruiser, dubbed 'Storm Petre'l. Dr. Cortes noted that the ship was a Research and Monitoring vessel primarily. He added that although the department does a lot of research already ‘it has to beg, steal and borrow’. Dr. Cortes went on to say that when the Department is deployed to carry out research or dives or to rescue birds, they will now be able to carry out their own work. Also with the help of an additional RHIB to be called 'Darwin' the Department will be able to monitor what is happening in the surrounding waters, more extensively.
The Gibraltar Heritage Trust has added its voice to concerns regarding the future development of the North Gorge site. The Trust says it supports the recent concerns expressed by GONHS in relation to the preservation of the biodiversity and natural environment of this site and stresses that, in addition to the need to preserve and protect the natural heritage of this area, which is geologically unique, there are a “number of heritage features within the site which are of significance.
We took some time out of the office this morning to take some pictures of the ships currently docked in Gibraltar’s naval base which form part of the Royal Navy’s annual deployment, Operation Cougar.
An extensive refurbishment project has been completed at Mount Alvernia. The works involved the replacement of crumbling balconies, extensive interior redecoration, the reinforcement of a retaining wall and exterior painting and plastering. The building, which comes under the management of the Care Agency, had been covered in scaffolding for around 12 years and a previous modernisation programme had been delayed indefinitely.
