20 January 2016 | Comments
The RMS St Helena arrived to the Island on Saturday 16 January around 23.00hrs – much earlier than scheduled – to achieve embarkation at 06.00hrs on Sunday 17 January so as to transport patients off St Helena for emergency medical treatment.
The RMS has now diverted to Walvis Bay, Namibia, to connect with a specialist ambulance flight to Cape Town. She will arrive in Walvis Bay around 20.00hrs on Wednesday evening and will remain in anchorage until Thursday morning, 21 January 2016. This will allow the medical flight to depart during daylight hours early on Thursday. The RMS will then continue as normal to Cape Town and arrive on schedule on Saturday 23 January.
SHG would like to sincerely thank all of those connected with this efficient and smooth operation. In difficult and emergency circumstances, the Island’s people came together to ensure the safe disembarkation and re-embarkation of all passengers and the safe evacuation of the medevac patients. SHG acknowledges the contribution of a great many people on St Helena, in the UK, in South Africa, and on board the RMS. Many individuals gave their time freely to ensure that those in need of emergency treatment were able to travel.
Acting Governor, Sean Burns said:
“This weekend’s events, focused on an emergency medical evacuation on the RMS, show yet again how this community pulls together.
From Hospital staff, to the RMS crew, passengers themselves, the Solomons team, SHG officials, Immigration & Customs staff, to the boat operators and others too many to mention – all can take pride in combining their efforts and bringing about a remarkable turnaround for the RMS when the circumstances demanded it.”
SHG
18 December 2016
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