For over 27 years, the RMS St Helena was the only way to reach the island — and she remains one of the most beloved chapters in St Helena’s story. This unique cargo-passenger ship served the island from 1990 until her retirement on 10 February 2018, when she made her final departure from James Bay. She was the last commercially operating Royal Mail Ship of her kind, and her regular voyages between Cape Town, St Helena and Ascension Island were an adventure in themselves.
Today St Helena is served by regular flights operated by Airlink from Johannesburg and (seasonally) Cape Town. For current travel information, visit our How to Get There page.
The RMS completed 268 voyages over 27 years of service, sailing approximately 2,170,000 nautical miles — the equivalent of 100 trips around the Earth’s equator, or five trips to the Moon and back.
About the RMS St Helena
Built for the purpose in Aberdeen by Hall, Russell and Company, costing £32.42million to build, against the original contract price of £19.5 million. Launched on 31st October 1989 by Prince Andrew and entered service in 1990.
Originally scheduled for retirement around 2012, the RMS was granted several extensions as the airport project was delayed. She finally made her last voyage from St Helena on 10 February 2018, following the opening of the airport and the start of commercial flights in October 2017.
Rumoured to be the last ocean going passenger ship built in a British shipyard, with a is British registered, 6,767 gross tonnes and originally had berths for a maximum of 128 passengers plus 56 officers and crew, this capacity being extended in 2012 by the addition of 24 extra cabin berths and a new gym. Is 105m long and has a cargo-carrying capacity of 1,800 tonnes.
A video of the RMS St Helena and arriving into James Bay
