|
|
|
| Sailing Charter Business Opportunity |
 |
| Picture yourself here. |
|
Cruise ship INFORMATION: 2012 The Holland America Cruise Ship MS Rotterdam visits Fanning Island during their voyages to French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. Island Info: Weather: HOT and mainly fine with the possibility of short showers. After you get off your air-conditioned climate-controlled cruise ship, the island may seem hot and steamy. To prevent condensation on your camera gear after exiting air conditioning, place cameras in a sealed plastic bags (such as Ziplocs) and let it acclimate to same temperature as outside before using it. Population: 2,500 Location: Fanning Island is in the center of the Pacific Ocean. Draw a line from Santiago Chile to Shanghai China, then draw one from Sydney Australia to San Francisco. Where they cross make a microscopic dot. That is Fanning Island. Several times over the years we see a large heavy lift ship carrying scrap metal to China, as well as the giant red container ship owned by the Columbus Line travelling San Francisco to Sydney. When the cruise ships first started visiting Fanning in 1997, they had one working tractor, 3 working motor scooters, one small flat bed truck, about 100 bicycles for the 300 families totaling about 1,900 people. Today is not much different, there are no working tractors, 5 flat bed trucks, 20 motor scooters, 270 working bicycles and our population has increases to about 2,500. There are still is no telephone, no Internet, no electricity, no hospital, and they are often out of imported food basics. Compared to the West there is nothing. But, compared to rest of Kiribati, Fanning is the richest island with golden cash flow of cruise ship money. Communication is by unreliable radio, costing $1 a minute in country, and $6 a minute overseas. The radio often does not work, or when the radio does the other island’s radio is broken. Telegrams are 17 cents a word locally including comas question marks and full stop. (period) If you are planning to visit: -First of all, for your COMFORT, do not forget to bring some Insect Repellent. The flies can be annoying and a little repellent (any repellent works well) will make a big difference at keeping the pesky flies off you. -wear lots of sun screen. The sun is very intense there and will burn quickly -Bring a Sun Hat and a good amount of fluids to drink. It is very hot and dehydration can be possible -take snack food for energy If you like to bring something to share with the people:
-Medical supplies for use in the 4 small island clinics are very much needed. Band-aids, cleaning solutions, hand soaps, wound care items and all other health care needs are most needed and important. Treating infections and health matters are a matter of life or death. Medical wish list at bottom of page. -Educational materials and school supplies are great items to bring and donate -New or used tennis/sports shoes that can be used by our local soccer team. They often play soccer and volleyball with ship crew and passengers on ship day. The larger & wider the better, some have described most of the feet as wide-fat-flat “Flintstone type Feet” from going barefoot. -Vegetable seeds, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, corn, melons, egg plant, green onions, and others that do well in a hot humid climate -Used eye glasses: prescription, reading, magnifiers. Whom to give to: It is more equitable to leave things with The Fanning Island Council Donation Committee to be shared with the 7 villages. The Island Council President or Clerk will be near the Council Office to assist you. If the schools are in session during the week and not on the weekends or breaks, visiting the schools and giving your supplies is definitely recommended. There are 3 primary schools on Fanning, one Junior Secondary School and one government boarding High School. Two schools are within walking distance of the pier. Those are the Junior Secondary School (closest) and NCL Primary School (NCL Primary School was renamed in honor of the NCL establishment of visits to Fanning in October of 1997). Wish List of Current Needs Jan 2012 One thing the cruise ship does bring is the latest virus, colds and flues. The nurse has asked for: cold/flu meds/cough allergy/sinus medications MEDS: Pediatric meds, aspirin/non aspirin pain meds antacids, misc diarreaha meds/liquids multi vitamins (prenatal vitamins and elderly) WOUND CARE: Suturing sets (needle driver, forceps, and scissors), IV solutions, Q-tips, band-aids/dressing supplies, bandaging materials, steri-strip tape, Coban and Coach bandage wrap ,dry powdered polysporin, neosporin, first aid gel/creams/ointments, betadine (sponges, swabs, solutions), alcohol swabs, surgical scrub brushes, surgical gloves, large syringes, (for irrigating wounds), hydrogen peroxide, alcohol HEALTH CARE: Baby infant formula antifungal, creams, gels and ointments anti-itch toothbrushes, toothpastes sunglasses, glasses Ace bandages. EQUIPMENT/ MISC SUPPLIES: (3) blood pressure machines, glucometers, test strips and lancets Prescription Meds Antibiotic: IV, oral, injectable, Penicillin (short acting, intermediate, long acting), amoxil, Cipro, Doxycycline, Augmentin, IV flagyl – metroidazole (used for severe infection), etc (20-30) injectable antihistamines (promethazine, benadryl); Epiden (stick type)co-trimoxazole (bactrim, septra) mebendazole (vermox) for worms, dicloxacillin sodium duratuss (asthma) pediatric meds, aspirin/non aspirin pain meds, antacids, misc diarrhea meds, multivitamins (prenatal vitamins and elderly),cold/flu meds/cough allergy/sinus medications Equipment/ Misc Supplies: basic dentistry tools, scalpels, scalpel handles for #3 and #4 blades, surgical blades, sharp disposal bio/hazardous boxes, scissors battery operated disposable cauterizer, Otorscope (extra batteries and bulbs) re-breather mask, latex gloves,
|