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Geest Line received thanks and a Merry Christmas greeting from one of our customers; Topfruit. It was so ingenious I had to share it!

Geest Line is proud to sponsor the Antiguan team in this year’s Atlantic rowing challenge. Take a look at the video about the challenge ahead!

No this is not the latest fad diet! – it is the amended International Maritime Organisation (IMO) legislation of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to ensure packed containers have a ‘verified weight’ prior to being loaded onto vessel. The legislation takes effect from 1st July 2016, Geest Line as a responsible carrier takes this legislation very seriously and seeks to inform and pre-advise it’s Shippers of the impending amended legislation that will effect their shipping process. Whilst each Shipper and Shipping Line will adopt it’s own procedures Geest Line stands firmly behind the rationale for this legislation and will assist it’s Shippers in anyway it can to be compliant and ensure there are no short-shipments due incorrect or unknown weights.

We plan to update Shippers further on this important subject as we gain further information from Ports, Terminals and Haulage contractors etc. in order to evaluate the most cost effective solution at the locations we operate.

In the meantime please find attached latest basic elements information issued to the trade from the World Shipping Council Click here WSC

Should you require any additional information please contact us at:  [email protected]

 

MV Benguela Stream has carried enough bananas for everyone in Britain to have 36 each has celebrated the start of her 100th voyage.

She set sail for the Caribbean this week (Tuesday, September 15) after a ceremony to mark the occasion at Albert Johnson Quay in Portsmouth.

A celebration lunch was held aboard the Dutch-registered 150m vessel and the company’s Financial Director Chris Roberts presented a commemorative plaque to her new Captain, Paul Hagendoorn and previous Captain, Arno Durkstra.

In her 100 round trips for Geest Line the 9,300-tonne Bengeula Stream has transported 2.3 billion bananas and travelled more than a million miles – equal to more than 400 times around the world. Geest Line has been the premier cargo shipping company linking Europe and the Caribbean for more than 60 years.

Mr Roberts said: “I am delighted that Bengeula Stream has reached this landmark. She was purpose-built for the ocean transport of perishable cargo and that she carries out this role perfectly is testament to the expertise of her 20 crew and Geest Line staff.

“She is versatile and absolutely suits Geest Line’s needs. She has a big capacity in four temperature-controlled holds, a highest speed of 21 knots and only needs to refuel in Portsmouth.

“I must emphasise that Geest Line is about much more than just bananas. We pride ourselves at the company on the diversity of the products and cargo we carry – any break bulk cargo from personal effects and furniture on pallets to race horses and supplies for major cruise ships in the Caribbean.”

Benguela Stream, fitted with her own crane, can carry 324 20-foot containers and, unusually for a major shipping line, will also accommodate 10-foot containersBengeula Stream’s 28-day round voyage takes in Le Havre, Martinique, Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and the Dominican Republic – carrying freight to the Eastern Caribbean, operating inter-island services and returning across the Atlantic laden with millions of bananas and other tropical fruit.

She is one of four similar specialist refrigeration ships on charter by Geest Line from Dutch company Seatrade since 2008. That charter has just been extended to December 2017. Sister vessel Klipper Stream completed her 100th voyage last month (August) with Timor Stream and Agulhas Stream to follow suit in the next few months as Geest cements its position as the only shipping line sailing direct from the UK to Eastern Caribbean with no transhipment.

Bradfest is an annual open air live music event which takes place in the grounds of Woodlands Park, Otterbourne near Winchester.

On the 14th June 2000, Bradley was tragically killed in a road accident near his home in Hampshire, just four days after his 9th birthday. Bradley’s Foundation was formed by Tina and Gary Dine with some close friends to commemorate Bradley’s 21st birthday on the 10th June 2012. This year the one-day festival raised £12,000 for cancer charities which included the Teenage Cancer Trust appeal.

BBC DJ Nelson topped a bill on Saturday 05 September 2015, which also included Southampton songstress Charley Macaulay, pop singer Danielle May and indie rockers The Novatones, fresh from local Hampshire sets at Common People and Blissfields this summer.

Geest Line have proudly sponsored this charity since it’s birth and has provided limitless time and effort to help support the cause. MD Peter Dixon says: “Geest Line have been delighted to support Bradley’s Foundation for the last three years and to see the success in raising funds in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It is always a challenge keeping large amounts of food and refreshments cool at such events and our 40 Foot Refrigerator (in the form of a Geest Line Reefer Container) performed the task admirably!”

We are delighted to see the success of Bradfest and look forward to future events.

On August 24, 2015, Tropical Storm Erika caused devastating loss of life and destruction of property on the island of Dominica. Geest Line has a long and proud association with this beautiful and resilient country and we would like to convey sincere condolences to the people of Dominica for the heavy toll that the storm has taken.

12 inches of rain fell within in just a 12-hour period, flooding and mudslides washed away infrastructure and property on the island-nation of approximately 72,000 people. Today there are significant numbers of displaced people who have lost their homes, and many communities remain inaccessible as a result of destruction to roads and bridges.

A full assessment of the impact of the storm can be found here https://www.cdema.org/

On behalf of the people of Dominica Geest Line would like to make you aware that it is possible for you to help.

You can send Donations to:

Cash donations can be made to the Red Cross of Dominica (where you can also view more photographs of the distruction) https://www.youcaring.com/red-cross-of-dominica-421257

You can send Goods by shipping them to:

Items most needed are as follows:

Prior to sailing from Albert Johnson Quay, Portsmouth (Tuesday 11 Aug 15) for her 100th voyage for the UK’s premier Caribbean shipping line, MV Klipper Stream hosted a celebration lunch for her crew, members of MMD and Geest Line.

Captain Peter Dixon, the Managing Director of Geest Line, presented the ship’s Master, Captain Gerard Flippo, with a plaque to mark the occasion. In doing so he thanked the Captain and crew for all their hard work and sterling service as they carry out the requirements of the Line in the Caribbean, UK and France.

Geest Line has been operating in the Caribbean for over 6 decades, Klipper Stream is one of four specialist refrigerated (reefer) vessels which has been under charter to the line from since 2008. A very versatile vessel, she is capable of carrying 324 x 20 foot containers for cargo (or 40 foot equivalent), and her 4 holds are used to carry Break Bulk Cargo. Geest Line is the leading shipping line in terms of Break Bulk Cargo carriage from UK and Europe to the Caribbean and can carry almost anything on deck. Her 4 holds are temperature and atmosphere controlled, allowing her to ship millions of Bananas from the Caribbean to the UK and Europe on a weekly basis.

During her 100 voyages Klipper Stream has covered approx. 1.2 million miles travelling from Europe to the Caribbean and inter island between Antigua, St Kitts, Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad, she has also just finished a mango season in Puerto Rico. She takes eight days to make her Atlantic crossing and only 28 days for a round trip Portsmouth to Portsmouth. She has carried approx. 2.6 billion bananas from the Caribbean to the UK – enough to supply over a quarter of the earth’s population with a banana.

Klipper Stream, in concert with her 3 sister vessels (Benguela, Agulhas and Timor), maintains a weekly presence for Geest Line within the Caribbean, arriving Portsmouth on a Sunday and sailing Tuesday. Klipper Stream 100 will arrive in Le Havre AM Wednesday 12 Aug – Fort de France, Martinique PM Thursday 20 Aug – Bridgetown, Barbados AM Friday 21 Aug – Port of Spain, Trinidad AM Saturday 22 Aug – St George’s, Grenada AM Sunday 23 Aug – Kingstown, St Vincent PM Sunday 23 Aug – Castries, St Lucia AM Monday 24 Aug – Vieux Fort, St Lucia PM Monday 24 Aug – Fort de France, Martinique AM Tuesday 25 Aug – Roseau, Dominica PM Tuesday 25 Aug – Manzanillo, Dominican Republic PM Thursday 27 Aug before returning to Portsmouth PM Sunday 6 Sept. Her westbound cargo includes brand new luxury cars, large excavators, containers with dry cargo; sugar, fertilizer, household goods, British products etc. She will move various cargos between the islands, whilst once again her eastbound return leg will see her full to the gunnels with tropical produce.

GEEST LINE
”CONNECTING THE CARIBBEAN”

Geest Line took the opportunity to support the Saint Lucia National Football Association (SLFA) U17 Football team by way of supplying a full new team kit, the team qualified earlier in the year to the CONCACAF U17 World Cup Qualification Tournament in Honduras.

SLFA qualifying for this tournament was an amazing success, it is the best result the National Football Team has ever achieved in International Competition. Particularly bearing in mind that Saint Lucia has a population of 170,000 and were the smallest team in the tournament, competing against teams like the USA with a population of 300 million, Mexico with 160 million and Canada with 35 million! The second smallest team was Trinidad & Tobago with a population of 1.2 million. SLFA were drawn in a very tough group that included the eventual final winners, Mexico, who beat tournament hosts, Honduras 0-3 in the final. The FIFA U17 World Cup Final will be held in Chile during Oct/Nov 2015 with 24 teams competing for the coveted title, including England, France, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Syria (Syria’s inclusion is no mean feat given their issues).

The resources of the SLFA and Saint Lucia on the whole are somewhat limited, especially when compared to most of the teams they competed against in Honduras. The SLFA is always on the lookout for assistance from the business community and kind individuals to help with preparing teams for competition and generally running football in the County. “We are extremely grateful to Geest Line for their kind donation”.

Geest Line are represented in Saint Lucia by the M&C group through Admiral Shipping. Geest Line is a part of the region in several ways, and for many years the company has been an important part of the economy of Saint Lucia, as the main shipping conduit for the Windward Islands to/from the UK, as well as the key carrier of goods and services from the Europe to other Caribbean Islands.

Here we see the team strip being formally handed over (L to R) Capt. Peter Dixon (MD Geest Line), Vince Noyce (Port Operations Manager Geest Line) & Cyril (Ces) Podd (Technical Director of Football at SLFA).

Ces, himself holds over 500 matches under his belt, as a previous league player in the UK..

It was all smiles on the Football For Cancer (FFC) finals day as Team Kiwi hoisted the Roger Blake Trophy after winning the 2015 FFC competition. Having been considered underdogs for much of the tournament, Team Kiwi delivered when it mattered the most and cruised home 5-1 winners, defeating the tournament favourites in the final. Jim Mardle Geest Line’s Terminal Operations Co-ordinator commented ‘we dedicate this win to our great friend Alistair “Kiwi” Walker, Jim also congratulated his team mates by stating “Kiwi would have enjoyed this a great deal”  a month ago most of the players hadn’t even met and here we are wining the trophy. FFC is more than a football tournament, our team this year showed tremendous character, spirit and belief in each other. It’s real evidence that if you can join together with one purpose and combine hard work with great teamwork then anything is possible”. To date this years FFC tournament has raised in excess of £50,000 a fantastic amount for people in need of Cancer support in the local Portsmouth area.

Visit ‘FFC’ website at WWW.FFCEVENTS.COM Geest Line are proud to support local charities.

If you would like to donate please visit Jim’s Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/James-Mardle2/

Congratulations to Jim and all his team mates with support from family and friends for all their efforts not only on the pitch but fund raising and creating greater awareness for such a worthy cause..

 

 

Geest Line are proud to announce sponsorship of the Wadadli Atlantic rowing team based in Antigua. The challenge commences in December 2015 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and there starts the adventure crossing the Atlantic to arrive in English Harbour, Antigua. The team leader Dr Nick Fuller decided to take up the challenge of rowing the 2,800 miles last year after watching the rowers arrive many times over the years from his small fishing boat he owned and with the desire to be the first Antiguan team to enter the challenge. The team has been entered as a Foursome with the name of Wadadli –  the local variation of the Amerindian name for Antigua Waladli or common for visitors the name of the local brew!

We wish the team well in their training and look forward to further updates. Please click here