[SADXA] DX news

[Wes]

For the OPDX bulletin:


3Y0J BOUVET ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Update). If you missed OPDX Special
Bulletin (OPDX.1519.1), it was announced that the 2023 Intrepid Bouvet
Island DXpedition has been canceled due to their planned ship the famaous
"RV Braveheart" which has provided outstanding safety and service to many
DXpeditions has been sold.
   Many DXers are asking "WHY NOT CHARTER ANOTHER SHIP?" Paul, N6PSE, Team
   Co-Leader posted the following on June 14th, on eHam.net:
   "Many have asked us why don't we charter another boat? That seems logical.
   We always have a 'Plan B' and we have approached other expedition charter
   vessels including the Cdt. Fourcault based in Belgium and the Hanse
   Explorer (which has been to Bouvet). Both of these ships have a charter
   cost of over 1 million USDs to go to Bouvet. That is not affordable for
   a DXpedition of 14 men. The Braveheart's charter cost was 652,000 USDs
   for 42 days or just over 15,000 USDs per day, which was our upper limit.
     The Braveheart is fit, sturdy and seaworthy with her survey complete.
   They have business booked two years out but cannot afford to be in lock-
   down any longer with no immediate business. I am told that the Braveheart
   is likely to be scrapped. It is the end of an era."
     Ken, LA7GIA, Team Co-Leader, also posted the following on June 14th:
   [edited] Braveheart was sold 14 months ago to a new owner Pacific 7.
   Pacific 7 have since then only used Braveheart 20 days locally in ZL.
   According to Pacific 7 there are no trips for Braveheart from mid 2020
   until mid 2022, for two years. With all the running costs 100,000 USDs
   pr year and no income, they can not keep her. Pacific 7 have been
   selling other vessels for some time already to keep the cash-flow,
   now when they can not afford to pay the mortgage they have to sell.
   If there are no buyers they have to scrap it. There are a lot of costs
   involved in having a vessel, a lot of uncertainties in these times,
   and also, if you leave there is a risk for getting stuck in a foreign
   port. Many companies have ceased their activity well into 2023, and
   many do not offer tours in the 21/22 season and 22/23 season in the
   southern hemisphere. We have searched for a substitute vessel for a
   long time already without any luck."
     HOWEVER, on June 18th, the following was posted from the Intrepid-DX
   Group [edited]: "Since the cancellation of 3Y0J, we have been working
   closely with Nigel Jolly to form a new plan, with a new owner of Brave-
   heart a revised payment plan that enables Nigel Jolly to continue
   managing Brave heart which will keep it available for DXpeditions for
   years to come. We are working out the details of this plan and hope to
   have some very positive news very soon. We have not given up!
     Thank you,
     Bouvet 2023 Team"

Keep your fingers crossed.

Wes  N7WS