RMS St Helena Withdrawing from Service

St Helena Line is planning to withdraw the passenger cargo Royal Mail Ship St Helena from service in February 2018.

“With the start of scheduled passenger flights to St Helena on 14 October 2017 providing the main passenger access to the Island, the RMS St Helena will be withdrawn from service,” SHL said.

The company added that it has appointed London shipbroker CW Kellock & Co Ltd to handle the sale of the ship.

Operated by St Helena Line Ltd (SHL) on behalf of the St Helena Government (SHG), the RMS has provided the sole regular means of access to the Island, a remote UK Overseas Territory located 1200 miles off the West coast of Africa in the South Atlantic.

The vessel was built in the UK in 1990 specifically for the St Helena route.

At 6,767 gross tonnes, it can accommodate 156 passengers in 56 cabins, together with a cargo capacity of 3,750 cbm bale, and 92 TEU (of which 17 reefer).

The RMS currently operates out of Cape Town calling at both St Helena and Ascension Island on a regular schedule.

“The RMS St Helena has played a vital role in sustaining St Helena’s population and, for the past 27 years has been the sole means of regular access to the Island,” SHL’s Chairman, Matt Young, said.

The ship is expected to finish its last voyage in Cape Town on February 15, 2018.

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