5 October 2017
St Helena Line has announced today, Thursday 5 October 2017, that it is to withdraw the Passenger Cargo Royal Mail Ship St Helena from service in February 2018 and has appointed London ship broker CW Kellock & Co Ltd to handle her sale.
Operated by St Helena Line Ltd (SHL) on behalf of the St Helena Government (SHG), the RMS has been part of the Island’s history for over quarter of a century and 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.
She was built in the UK in 1990 specifically for the St Helena route. At 6,767 gross tonnes, she can accommodate 156 passengers in 56 cabins, together with a cargo capacity of 3750 cbm bale, and 92 teu (of which 17 reefer). She is staffed by 56 officers and crew.
The RMS St Helena is one of only four ships left in the world which has the right to carry the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) prefix.
The RMS currently operates out of Cape Town calling at both St Helena and Ascension Island on a regular schedule.
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flights to St Helena on 14 October 2017 providing the main passenger access to the Island, the RMS St Helena will be withdrawn from service.
The RMS St Helena is now embarked on her final programmed voyages and in the coming weeks will make a farewell call to Tristan da Cunha and then a final voyage to both St Helena and Ascension Island. She is expected to finish her last voyage in Cape Town on 15 February 2018.
SHL has appointed the highly experienced London ship brokers CW Kellock & Co Ltd (Part of the Eggar Forrester Group), to handle the sale and it is hoped that a buyer can be found to continue to trade the vessel elsewhere in the world.
Commenting on the sale process and her withdrawal from service, SHL’s Chairman, Matt Young, said:
“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.
“Her combined passenger accommodation and cargo design makes her well suited to a number of different trading options and we are confident that she can continue to play an important role elsewhere in the world.”
Further details on the RMS St Helena can be found on: www.rms-st-helena.com
Prospective purchasers should contact:
CW Kellock & Co Ltd: Paul Willcox
Tel +44 0207 4481395
Email: Kellock@eggarforrester.com
Media Contact:
Simon Quarendon, Keene Communications
Email: simon@keenecomms.com
Tel: 00 44 (0)207 839 2140 (O) 00 44 (007850 618418 (M)
Note to editors:
A high resolution photograph of the RMS St Helena is available on request.
Further details about the RMS St Helena:
UK flag
Built 1990 A&P Appledore, UK.
3130 dwt on 6.016m draft.
105m loa, 19.2m beam.
Class: Lloyds Register.
6,767 gross tonnes.
Accommodation: 156 passengers in 56 cabins, 56 officers and crew.
Dining salon. Lounge. Sun lounge. Swimming pool. Gymnasium. Stabilisers. Air conditioning.
Cargo capacity 3750 cbm bale. 92 teu (of which 17 reefer).
2 holds, 2 hatches. Cranes 2/30 Derricks 2/10.
Main engines: 2 x Mirrlees KMR6MK3. 8880BHP.
Service speed 14knts IFO180- 19MT per day MDO 2MT per day
The vessel is currently in service and can be inspected in Cape Town, South Africa, where she is scheduled to call on 17th to 21st Oct, 8th to 11th Nov, 29th Nov to 1st Dec, 27th to 29th Dec and 22nd to 24th Jan 2018. The vessel is expected to be ready for delivery to buyers in Cape Town at the end of Feb 2018.
St Helena Line Ltd
5 October 2017