Infrastructure
Wharfage and Cargo Handling Facilities
The passenger landing area (which is used for passengers from the RMS St Helena, as well as yachts and cruise liners), is situated at the Wharf in Jamestown along with the immigration and custom halls, and the stevedoring area. A wharf improvement project is in progress to make improvements to existing facilities. In the longer term it is intended that passenger facilities will remain at Jamestown, while cargo-handling will as far as possible move to Rupert’s Bay which is away from the town. All cargo currently arrives at Jamestown while daily fish catches and bulk fuel are brought ashore at Ruperts. In adverse sea conditions, fish is sometimes unloaded in Jamestown.
Bulk Fuel Installation (BFI) Farm
The BFI receives new supplies of fuel via ship every three months and fuel is piped ashore. The construction of a larger facility is included as a component within the air access project but the British Government has put this project on pause due to the economic crisis.
Energy
Power generation on St Helena is currently provided by a combination of diesel generators and wind turbines. The wind turbines provide significant savings in diesel costs so, when operational, the turbines are used in addition to, rather than instead of, the generators. This arrangement provides a total of about 4.5 MW to the island’s network. Current average demand is 1.1 MW, with a peak demand of about 1.8 MW.
Roads and Buildings
The Public Works and Services Department (PW&SD) is responsible for managing the road network. The network currently comprises 118km of roads, classified as Government Secondary Highway (80km) and Non-government District road (39km). There are approximately 22 bridges and several culverts. The bridges are typically reinforced concrete slabs over universal steel beams, spanning up to 4 or 5 metres. Most of the highways are not heavily trafficked (less than 200 vehicles per day); Ladder Hill and Side Path being the two main exceptions with about 1,000 and 700 vehicles per day, respectively. The majority of the network only allows single vehicular traffic with lay-byes at various intervals to allow two vehicles to pass by. There are currently no traffic lights on St Helena and only two roundabouts.
Water Supply
About 90% of water supplied on-island is treated. This is supplied via the four main distribution systems of Jamestown, Red Hill, Hutts Gate and Levelwood. Improvements are continuous to the water treatment operations in order to improve quality. The distribution network comprises 14 areas served by 29 distribution tanks and over 250 km of pipelines; it serves a total of 2700 connections. The Department For International Development will be injecting money into the Island for the advancement of a major infrastructure program. This is to address the physical infrastructure including roads and electricity.
Communications
Telecommunication services are provided exclusively by Cable and Wireless plc using modern satellite links. The full range of telephone, fax and email communications are available with an on-island internet server providing fast access to the World Wide Web. There is a local postal service and international post is carried principally by the Royal Mail Ship 'St Helena'. For more information on the postal service please visit www.postoffice.gov.sh
The media on the Island is wholly independent, providing entertainment, information and news. A 24-hour satellite television service is provided by Cable and Wireless plc and there are two radio stations and two weekly newspapers.
Transport
There is a good road network covering the whole Island. The maximum vehicle weight limit is 14 tonnes. A wide range of vehicles are used on the Island including specialist plant and machinery. There are a number of taxi services and St Helena also has a public transport system in the form of a bus service. More information can be obtained on the tourist website at www.discoveroursecret.co.sh