Minister for Heritage, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Hon Fabian Vinet, combined his heritage brief with his role as Chairman of Gibtelecom when he formally buried a sealed steel chest containing early 21st century relics-to-be, including telecommunications equipment, Gibtelecom corporate records and Company publications, in the floor of the John Mackintosh Square building.

An engraved plaque will be placed over the floor of what is to be the new Customer Service Centre, to mark the time capsule’s location.
The ceremony was attended by Gibtelecom’s CEO, Tim Bristow, along with Verizon Communications’ Vice President (Europe) Mr Rahul Saxena and other Gibtelecom board members. Verizon are joint owners of Gibtelecom along with the Government of Gibraltar.

Fabian Vinet paid tribute to Gibtelecom for what he described as an innovative initiative to preserve part of Gibraltar’s history. He added, ‘The capsule will provide future generations with a glimpse of the way telecommunications has developed over the last century or so.’

Much of this history will be expressed in Malcolm Beanland’s book ‘Gibraltar Calling’, part of the time capsule, which traces the origins of Gibtelecom back to the mid 1880s and the Eastern Telegraph Company. It also covers the history of the company up to the merger of Gibraltar Nynex with Gibtel.

Gibraltar Nynex Communications Ltd was formed in 1990 when the former government Gibraltar Telephone Department was privatised.

The new offices at John Mackintosh Square are partly the reconstruction of the existing building, which dates back to 1801 or earlier. The new construction rests on piles, or legs, some of which penetrate a full 20 metres down to the bedrock below.

Tarik Shipping has taken delivery of a new vessel that will enable it to expand the services if offers to merchant ships calling in to Gibraltar. The vessel, Red Wolf is a twin-engine 18 metre steel workboat and is licensed to carry up to seventeen passengers as well as three crew.

Red Wolf has the benefits of speed and the ability to operate in zone B off port limits which extend up to 6 miles from the Rock.

Currently only tugs are licensed for zone B operations, but they lack the speed of Tarik’s new arrival. Harbour launches, which operate in zones A and C, are restricted to carrying only 12 passengers.

The new addition can also carry between 10-15 pallets of stores and general provisions for visiting merchantmen.

Red Wolf will join Tarik’s fleet of three other vessels, Lady Grandy, Texas, an ex-Swedish minelayer and Aiakos a bunker barge used for supplying gasoil and general stores.

Ernest Morillo, Manager of Tarik Shipping said “Our business is going well although we have worked hard to continue our growth. The environment remains very competitive, but our service levels ensure we maintain good relationships with our clients. This new addition to our fleet will enable us to offer clients an extended and more comprehensive service.”

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