Gibraltar
stands guard over the western Mediterranean. The spectacular
rock monolith extends to a land area of about six square
kilometers. Gibraltar is situated at the southern tip
of Spain overlooking the strait to Africa and is known as
the Meeting Place of Continents. As the start
of Solar Navigator's voyage, Gibraltar sets the scene for
adventure and exotic locations and gives the crew something
to look forward to on return.
Gibraltar's
history and sub-tropical environment are captivating and
welcoming year round. Today Gibraltar is a prominent
tourist and business destination. The sub-tropical
climate is warm and welcoming throughout the year. The local
people are friendly and welcoming and a blend of many
cultures.
HISTORY:
Gibraltar
forms the eastern shore of a bay that has been of commercial
importance from the earliest times. It has been claimed that
the port of Tharshish to which the fleets of Solomon resorted
was situated here. Indeed, the Phoenicians recognised
the advantages of its protective geographical features when
they founded the colony of Melcarthos (Carteia) on the north
shore during the 9th century B.C. and made it an entropy for
trade with many ports throughout the Mediterranean.
Gibraltar
was occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians,
Romans and Visgoths but remained uninhabited till the
Mohammedan invasion of the Iberian peninsula in 711 A.D. by
Tariq-ibn-Zeyad from whom Gibraltar gets its name, Gibel Tariq
(Tariq's Mountain) and the city itself was founded by the
Almohad monarch, Abd el Mumin in 1160 A.D. The Spaniards
finally captured Gibraltar from the Moors in 1462 and
retained it until 1704. In that year it was surrendered to an
Anglo Dutch force during the war of the Spanish Succession,
since when it has remained in British hands.
The
existence of the actual Rock of Gibraltar is first recorded by
the Romans, who named it Calpe. It was the belief of ancient
writers that the Pilars of Hercules were situated in the
Strait of Gibraltar and after they perished, the two
mountains, Calpe and Abyla (the latter being situated opposite
Gibraltar on the African shore, retained the names.
LOCATION:
Latitude - 36°08°N
Longitude - 05°22°W.
CURRENCY:
One
Gibraltar £ = £1 sterling
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Gibraltar
is a modern growing city which has all the essential services
- banks, hospitals, dentists, police and consuls - available.
The international airport is under 2km away from the terminal
and frequent scheduled flights connect it with Heathrow,
Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports. There are also regular
flights to Morocco.
The Spanish border is open 24 hours a day for both vehicles
and pedestrians. Jerez or Ronda by road takes about two hours
from the border, Seville is about three hours away. A fast sea
crossing connects Gibraltar with Tangier.
There are no tidal restrictions and no locks to negotiate. Its
location adjacent to the Gibraltar Straits - the western
entrance to the Mediterranean - means there is negligible
diversion time with ships able to berth in about an hour.
Gibraltar's position has made it a focal point for passing
ships to call in for bunkers, provisions and crew changes. The
port is open 24 hours daily, while office opening hours are
weekdays 0845-1730 hours. One day's notice of ETA is to be
given with confirmation two hours before arrival.
DOCUMENTS
REQUIRED:
Three
crew lists/Passenger lists, Maritime Declaration of Health,
Ship's Register, Load-line certificate, de-rating certificate,
Crew Agreement, certificate of Insurance concerning Civil
liability for Oil Pollution.
PILOTAGE:
Compulsory
on arrival and for berthing, un-berthing and shifting
anchorage. Vessels at anchor may leave without a Pilot.
ACCOMMODATION:
Cruise
Liners and vessels calling for bunkers or water can be berthed
at both sides of the Western Arm. Outer side is 490m long
draft up to 9.6m. the inner side is 450m and maximum draft is
8m. Ships of deeper draft can be accommodated according to
tide. Vessels calling for lay - up or repairs can be berthed
at the Detached Mole. There are also two berths of 100m in
length available to vessels discharging general cargoes.
BUNKERS:
Vessels may bunker either alongside or at the anchorage,
day or night. There is no draft restriction at the
anchorage. All grades supplied by barge, pipeline or
road tanker. Available 24 hours. Luboils are available in
barrels or in bulk.
LUBOILS: Available in barrels or in bulk.
SHIP REPARIS: Dry docks, slipways and repair
facilities are available on application to Cammel Laird which
is capable of carrying out all types of hull and engine
repairs. Telephone (+350) 40354 Fax 42022 & 75390.
UNDERWATER REPAIRS: These can be carried out by
Scamp Underwater (Gibraltar) Ltd. Telephone (+350) 42994, Fax
(+350) 42993, Telex 2281 DIVER GK.
TOWAGE: Alexander Towing Company has tugs of up
to 2200 HP stationed at Gibraltar. Rates of hire are available
on application. Telephone (+350) 41912, (+350) 75487 and
(+350) 74671, Fax (+350) 43050. Maritime
(Gibraltar) Ltd owns and operates tugs in the Port of
Gibraltar providing tug services for the Commercial Port,
Naval Base and off port limits services. Telephone (+350)
42994, Fax (+350) 47814. Tugs operated by Howard
Smith Towage & Salvage are stationed at Gibraltar.
AIRPORT: 1.4K from the Port.
EASTERN ANCHORAGE: Vessels arriving at the
Eastern Anchorage must report when entering the anchorage and,
once anchored, must give the vessel's position to Gibraltar
Port Control which maintains VHF watch on channels 16 and 12.
MARINAS: Berths for yachts are provided by three
marinas capable of accepting vessels with drafts of up to 4.5
metres
WATER & STORES: Fresh water is available at
the cruise terminal and other berths. A well established
chandlery network provides all other requirements.
SECURITY: New measures now being enforced around
port areas include security guards, fencing, closed circuit TV
and floodlighting.
PORT
ADMINISTRATION: The
Port of Gibraltar is administered by the Port Department.
Within the Government of Gibraltar the Minister with
responsibility for the Port is the Minister for Tourism, and
Transport, The Hon JJ Holiday. The
Port Department has a staff around 50. There are in addition
seven self-employed Pilots on station at the Port responsible
to the Pilotage Authority, the Captain of the Port.
Captain
of the Port: Captain J Ferro
Tel:
(00350) 77254
Fax: (00350) 51513
Port
Surveyor: Captain Paul V Townsend
Tel:
(00350) 79028
|
Operations
Room:
S/Cdr. M Olivera
Tel: (00350) 78134
Fax: (00350) 77011
Executive
Officer (Accounts): Mr P Wyatt
Tel:
(00350) 71187 Fax: (003500 76750
|
CUSTOMS
FORMALITIES: The Customs
Department is responsible for the control of all
imports/exports by the sea, land or air. It also has the
responsibility for the clearance of passengers and their
baggage on arrival in Gibraltar and equally so controls are
exercised over the arrivals of private pleasure crafts.
Any ship arriving
in Gibraltar with cargo must, within 24 hours, make report of
the ship and the cargo by delivery to Customs an inward
manifest of goods on duly signed by the Master or Agent, as
the case may be. The Master must also answer all questions
which may be put to him by the Customs Officer relating to the
ship, her crew, cargo, passengers, stores, and voyage.
He must also produce and deliver any document relating to the
ship, her cargo etc. In the case of a ship over 1,000 net
tons, the manifest required shall only relate to cargo to be
landed or transhipped in Gibraltar. However, the Master must
still answer any question and produce a manifest of goods in
transit if this is required by the Custom Officer. The cargo
is then unloaded and placed in Transit Sheds where it is
segregated and sorted out by the ship's agents for delivery
for home use or for re-export from Gibraltar. A free storage
period of five days is allowed - thereafter if the goods have
not been cleared then they are stored in a Government
Warehouse where store rent accrues.
Transhipment
facilities are available in Gibraltar and no import duty is
payable on goods which, on importation, are declared to be in
transit or for transhipment purposes.
Private pleasure
crafts arriving in Gibraltar are subjected to normal Customs
clearance and the Master must produce to the authorities a
crew list giving details of those on board, including names,
nationalities, passport numbers etc. On arrival, yachts must
report to the reception berth on the starboard side of the
approach to the Marinas. Information about the actual vessel
is also required which should include nationality, port of
registry etc. It is convenient for these crews lists to be
ready before the vessels arrives in Gibraltar. There are
prohibitions on importation of certain items such as flick
knives, gravity knives, controlled drugs, firearms,
explosives, ivory etc.
There is a 12%
import duty on new vessels imported and which are going to be
permanently based here. Temporary importation, without payment
of duty, is allowed, provided that the importer is not
permanently resident in Gibraltar. Unaccompanied yachts
imported by non-residents may remain in Gibraltar under
temporary import regulations although they may be placed under
Customs seal until duty is paid.
Further
information about Customs formalities may be obtained from the
Collector of Customs, Customs House, Waterport,
Gibraltar - Telephone 78879, Fax 78362, Telex GIBCUS
2376.
GIBRALTAR'S
FLORA and FAUNA
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION:
The vegetation of the Rock of Gibraltar is, on the whole,
typical Mediterranean in nature. This consists largely of
dense scrub of the type known as maquis, but there are other
areas of more open, lower scrub known as garigue. However due
to the geologic and geographic nature of the Rock there is
considerate variation in the type of scrub, and also in the
variety of habitats available to plants. Apart from scrub we
have extensive sea cliffs, a limited but important rocky
shoreline, the unique great sand slopes of the east side,
rocky limestone outcrops and fissures, the steppe conditions
of Windmill Hill, and the remains of the sandy isthmus which
linked Gibraltar to Spain found at North Front Cemetery.
Gibraltar is a limestone mountain and so the soil is alkaline.
In contrasts the mountains in the surrounding area of Spain
are largely sandstone and so the soil is more acid. As a
result of this there are many species found on the Rock which
are rare or not found in the surrounding region. At the same
time, the geology of the Rock is similar to that of North
Africa, and so there are species common to both regions. All
these factors provide a variety of habitats which give rise to
an extensive flora, including some plants which are unique to
the Rock. The flora of Gibraltar consists of some 530 species,
representing almost 90 families and 330 genera. The majority
of these are native species, but some of the 530 are species
which have been introduced and become naturalised. The
principal flowering months are March to May, but flowers may
be seen virtually all the year round. However, very few will
be out in the summer months (July to August) when very little
if any rain falls. Shortly after the first rains in September,
new growth quickly becomes evident, and by November, a large
number of plants are already visible.
MAQUIS:
This consists of a dense, almost impenetrable mass of small
trees and shrubs together with creeping and climbing plants,
which can be between 3 and 5 metres high. The bulk of the
Upper Rock comprises this type of vegetation. The main
trees/shrubs found here are: Rhamnus alaternus (Mediterranean
Buckthorn); Osyris quadripartita (Osyris); Olea europaea
(Olive); Pistacia lentiscus (Lentisc); Pistacia terebinthus
(Turpentine Tree); Bupleurum fruticosum (Shrubby Hare's Ear);
Smilax aspera (Rough Smilax); Clematis cirrhosa (Virgin's
Bower); Aristolochia baetica (Pipe Vine); Asparagus album
(White Asparagus); Lonicera implexa (Honeysuckle); Ruscus
hypophyllum (Southern Butchers Broom); Coronilla valentina
glauca (Shrubby Scorpion Vetch); Calicotome villosa (Spiny
Broom); Teucrium fruticans (Tree Germander); Laurus nobilis
(Sweet Bay, Laurel); Celtis australis (Nettle Tree); Ceratonia
siliqua (Carob); Chamaerops humilis (Dwarf Fan Palm); Ephedra
fragilis (Joint-Pine); Jasminum fruticans (Wild Jasmine);
Prasium majus (Prasium).
GARINGUE:
This consists of fairly open vegetation formed by low shrubs,
between knee and waist high. This type of vegetation is not
extensive locally, and is generally found in the southern
parts of the Rock, e.g. around Martin's Path, Levant Battery,
Hole-in-the-wall, etc. The more open nature of this type of
vegetation enables the growth of a greater variety of species
than is possible in the more overgrown maquis.
Many of the shrubs found in the maquis are also found here,
but of a lower stature. Many of the shrubs are aromatic, such
as Teucrium lusitanicum (Felty Germander); Rosmarinus
officinalis (Rosemary); Ruta angustifolia (Narrow-leaved
Fringed Rue); Sideritis arborescens (Shrubby Sideritis);
Lavandula dentata (Toothed Lavender); Lavandula multifida
(Cut-leaved Lavender). Here we also find Euphorbia squamigera
(Warty Spurge); Stipa tenacissima (Esparto Grass); Teline
linifolia (Teline); and Chamaerops humilis (Dwarf Fan Palm).
In a small area along Mediterranean Road we also find Cistus
albidus (Grey-leaved Cistus) and Cistus Salvifolius
(Sage-leaved Cistus). This is rather surprising since these
are plants of acid soil. It must mean that this restricted
area is more acid than the surroundings. Bulbous plants
abound, e.g. Scilla peruviana (Giant Squill); Urginea maritima
(Sea Squill); Allium ampeloprasum (Great Round-headed Leek);
Gladiolus communes (Common Gladiolus); Asphodelus aestivus
(Common Asphodel); Asphodelus albus (White Asphodel), and a
proliferation of other herbaceous plants which provide an
explosion of colour during the Spring months (March to May).
ROCK FORMATION:
The formidable limestone cliffs which form the North Face of
the Rock and the East side, the rocky upper ridge and the
outcrops and roadsides within the maquis, provide a habitat
where can be found a large number of interesting and unique
species. Here we find Silene tomentosa (Gibraltar Campion), a
very rare plant found nowhere else in the world. This plant
was believed extinct until rediscovered in 1994. Other plants
are Iberis gibraltarica (Gibraltar Candytuft), a plant of
North Africa and found nowhere else in Europe except
Gibraltar; Cerastium gibraltaricum (Gibraltar Chickweed) also
unique to Gibraltar, Saxifraga globulifera var. gibraltarica
(Gibraltar Saxifrage), a variety unique to Gibraltar; Thymus
willdenowii (Gibraltar Thyme), very common locally and very
rarely, if at all, found elsewhere. Apart from these special
species we find Iris filifolia (Narrow-leaved Purple Iris);
Dianthus caryophyllus (Clove Pink); Scilla peruviana (Giant
Squill); Narcissus papyraceus (Paper-white narcissus) which
grows in huge quantities between the months of November and
January; Colchicum lusitanum (Southern Colchicum); Lobularia
maritima (Sweet Alison); Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) which
is also found on walls and rooftops in the town area;
Gladiolus communes (Common Gladiolus); Euphorbia characias
(Large Mediterranean Spurge); Aeonium arboreum (Tree
Houseleek), and many others. The general appearance in Spring
is that of a giant rock garden run wild. It is in this habitat
that one can find any of the ten species of wild orchids found
on the Rock. These are very rare and difficult to find. The
ones found in Gibraltar are Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid);
Ophrys fusca (Brown Bee Orchid); Ophrys lutea (Yellow Bee
Orchid); Ophrys tenthredinifera (Sawfly Orchid); Ophrys
bombyliflora (Bumblebee Orchid); Ophrys speculum (Mirror
Orchid); Gennaria diphylla (Two-leaved Gennaria); Serapias
parviflora (Small-flowered Tongue Orchid); Spiranthes spiralis
(Autumn Ladies Tresses Orchid); Anacamptis pyramidalis
(Pyramidal Orchid).
SHORELINE and CLIFFS
This seemingly inhospitable environment, whipped by the
Easterlies and South-Westerlies, and lashed by sea spray,
provides the ideal habitat for certain plants which are only
found close to the sea. These include Limonium emarginatum
(Gibraltar Sea Lavender), a plant which is believed to be a
North African species, and very rarely found elsewhere in
Europe. Other species found here are Crithmum maritimum (Rock
Samphire); Suaeda vera (Shrubby Seablite); Limonium sinuatum
(Winged Sea Lavender); Asteriscus maritimum (Sea Daisy),
actually found throughout the Rock; Frankenia laevis (Sea
heath); Senecio bicolor cineraria (Cineraria). Here we also
find the very rare Senecio leucanthemifolius (Coastal Ragwort),
and Mesembrianthemum crystallinum (Ice Plant).
EASTERN SAND SLOPES:
These are prehistoric consolidated sand dunes, created by
wind-blown sands during a time when sea levels were much lower
than at present, and sandy plains spread eastward from
Gibraltar. This sandy soil provides a unique habitat not only
for plants of sandy shores, but for many others. The plants
that can survive in this habitat are adapted to withstand
salt-laden winds, high temperatures with no cover from the
sun, and scarcity of water. Here we find Ononis natrix
ramosissima var. gibraltarica (Gibraltar Restharrow), a
variety which is unique to Gibraltar. We also find Eryngium
maritimum (Sea Holly); Linaria pedunculata (Branched
Toadflax); Daucus carota (Wild Carrot); Cyperus capitatus
(Sand Sedge); Silene nicaeensis (Sticky Catchfly); Silene
littorea (Shore Campion); Medicago marina (Sea Medick);
Pancratium maritimum (Sea Holly); Dipcadi serotinum (Brown
Bluebell); Euphorbia baelica (Southern Spurge); Cachrys
libanotis (Sand Cachrys); Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket); Allium
sphaerocephalon (Round-headed Leek); Crucianella maritima
(Coastal Crucianella); Delphinium nanum (Violet Larkspur);
Dianthus broteri (Fringed Pink); Glaucium flavum (Yellow
Horned Poppy); Lotus creticus (Southern Birdsfoot Trefoil);
Malcolmia littorea (Silver Sea Stock); Verbascum giganteum
(Giant Mullein). A number of these species are also found in
North Front Cemetery which is all that is left of the sandy
isthmus which separated the Rock from mainland Spain.
STEPPE:
At Windmill Hill Flats we find a rather hostile environment: a
flat, wind-lashed terrain, with thin, poor stony soil. Despite
all this, Windmill Hill is a treasure-house of plant species.
In Spring it is a riot of colour, albeit for a brief period.
Here we find a number of species which are not found elsewhere
on the Rock, including Crocus serotinus salzmannii (Southern
Autumn Crocus); Salvia verbenaca (Wild Clary); Echium
parviflorum (Small-flowered Bugloss); Plantago serraria
(Saw-toothed Plantain); Hedysarum coronarium (Italian Sainfoin);
Mantisalca salmantica; Minuartia geniculata (Pink Sandwort);
Tetragonolobus purpureus (Winged Asparagus Pea); Lathyrus
annuus (Annual Yellow Vetchling). Other important plants found
here better than anywhere else on the Rock are Ornithogalum
orthophyllum (Star of Bethlehem); Romulea clusiana (Romulea);
Gynandriris sisyrinchium (Barbary Nut); Borago officinalis
(Borage); Ecballium elaterium (Squirting Cucumber); Echium
plantagineum (Purple Viper's Bugloss).
NON INDIGENOUS SPECIES:
A number of species have been introduced either deliberately
or accidentally. Many of these come from countries with a
climate similar to that of Gibraltar e.g. South Africa and
parts of South and Central America. These have no trouble in
settling in and spreading, sometimes to the detriment of
native species. Among these plants are Oxalis pes-caprae
(Bermuda Buttercup); Agave americana (Century Plant);
Carpobrotus edulis (Hottentot Fig) which was introduced in
order to stabilise the great eastern sand slopes; Opuntia
ficus-indica (Barbary Fig); Freesia refracta (Freesia); Aloe
arborescens (Tree Aloe).
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