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The cruise ship Azamara Journey will arrive in St Helena on Wednesday morning, 11 February 2026. There are approximately 663 passengers and approximately 388 crew on-board.

Approximately 208 passengers are booked on island tours. Tours will depart at 09:00 from Jamestown Wharf.

It is expected that the passengers will carry the following currencies: GBP, US Dollars, and Euros. Currency rate of exchange information is available from the Bank of St Helena and the Tourist Office.

There is a wide range of nationalities on-board, with the main nationalities being British, American & Canadian. The Azamara Journey will depart St Helena around 18:00.

Temporary One-way Traffic System

The public are advised that a temporary one-way system will be in place in the direction of Gordons Post to Hutts Gate along Tomb Road on Wednesday, 11 February 2026,  from 09:00 to 15:00.

Traffic wishing to travel in the opposite direction will be diverted from Hutts Gate to Gordons Post via The Dungeon, as per the map below:

The one-way system has been put in place to safely manage traffic and ease congestion, given the anticipated increase in vehicle volumes due to the visit of the Azamara Journey cruise ship. This is the same process as has been put in place in previous years, and for the last cruise ship visit, and is likely to also be a feature during future cruise ship visits.

SHG

10 February 2026

The public are advised that the Jamestown Wharf will be closed to all members of the public from 06:00 on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, due to the arrival of the cruise ship MV Azamara Journey. Any closure will be weather dependent and based on the sea conditions on the day.

The Jamestown Wharf will remain closed until the vessel has departed.

Access to the Jamestown Wharf will be strictly prohibited and will be limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.

Boat owners are further advised that no maintenance works will be permitted on the Wharf during this period.

Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation during this time.

St Helena is still experiencing a north-westerly swell, resulting in unsettled sea conditions in both James and Rupert’s Bay.

Boat owners are advised to ensure their vessels are securely moored during this period.

Rupert’s Beach and the Jetty are now open, but the public are advised to exercise caution in these areas. Swimmers should exercise extreme caution when entering the water in James and Rupert’s Bay and refrain from using life rings and other lifesaving equipment for recreational swimming.

Vehicle owners are advised to avoid parking near the rails on the seafront and individuals are asked to use caution when in close proximity to the railings due to the potential risk of wave overspray and associated hazards.

The Emergency Planning Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.

The St Helena Customs and Immigration Department is aware that the temporary closure of St Helena Airport may cause concern for some residents and visitors, particularly in relation to their immigration status.

We would like to reassure the public that we are closely monitoring the situation. At this time, there is no action required from individuals in relation to their immigration status as a result of the airport closure.

Our teams are working closely with relevant partners and we will continue to assess any potential impact.

Should it become necessary to contact specific individuals, further guidance will be issued directly and through official channels.

For enquiries, please contact Customs and Immigration via email at cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh during normal office hours.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

To ensure the successful completion of the Roads Slurry Programme, preparation and cleaning work is set to begin on the final phase of the project.

Closure Details

In addition to the ongoing daily closures between Longwood Gate and Hutt’s Gate, new daily road closures will be implemented as follows:

Please be advised that roadworks may occasionally be scheduled over weekends. The Roads Section will provide advance notice to the public before any weekend closures take place.

Work Schedule

The project will be completed in two distinct stages:

Access for Residents

Residents living within the affected stretch are kindly asked to contact the Roads Supervisory Staff at 23640 to coordinate any essential travel during closure hours.

Appropriate signage will be displayed throughout the area. We request the public’s full cooperation to help us complete these works safely and on schedule.

We thank you for your patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The MV Karoline is expected to arrive to arrive at James Bay on Monday, 9 February 2026, at 06:00. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty.

During this time, Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility, the beach, the Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will be placed under Security Access Level 3, meaning these areas will be restricted to authorised personnel only.

The restrictions will remain in place until all cargo operations are completed and the vessel has departed.

Once the vessel leaves, security will move into Access Level 2. At this stage, only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal operating hours (08:00 – 17:00)

The beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will reopen to the public and may be accessed via the public walkway from Liberation House or via Ferry Service (charges apply)

After working hours, security will reduce to Access Level 1, allowing vehicular access through the Facility.

St Helena Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding.

SHG

05 February 2026

The Emergency Planning Department wishes to inform the public that the island’s Early Warning System, commonly known as the Klaxon, has been officially suspended.

The system was originally purchased in 2021, using external funds, with the intent to provide an audible emergency alert for the residents of Jamestown and Rupert’s. However, due to persistent complications between the system’s communication technology and the island’s unique topography, the system has proven unreliable.

This decision follows extensive efforts by the current Emergency Planning team to rectify the issues. Despite conducting a range of fault-finding investigations, repair efforts, and exploring various technical upgrades, it has become clear that the system cannot be restored to a reliable operational standard.

Alternative Warning Methods

The safety of the community remains our highest priority. Emergency services will continue to warn and inform the public using established methods that have been successfully relied upon for many years, including:

Our Commitment to the Community

The Emergency Planning Department is committed to ensuring that any system in place is effective and dependable. Whilst no system is without limitations, we believe it is important to be transparent with the community when a specific technology does not meet the rigorous standards required for public safety. We will continue to rely on our tried-and-tested manual notification procedures while exploring future sustainable options for the island.

#StHelena #EmergencyPlanning #NotificationProcedures

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St Helena is currently experiencing a north-westerly swell, resulting in unsettling sea conditions in both James and Rupert’s Bay.

Boat owners are advised to ensure their vessels are securely moored during this period.

Swimmers should exercise extreme caution when entering the water in James and Rupert’s Bay and refrain from using life rings and other lifesaving equipment for recreational swimming.

Vehicle owners are advised to avoid parking near the rails on the seafront and individuals are asked to use caution when in close proximity to the railings due to the potential risk of wave overspray and associated hazards.

Port Control has closed lower Rupert’s, including the jetty and beach area, until further notice.

The Emergency Planning Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.

SHG

02 February 2026

St Helena is experiencing a north-westerly swell with unexpected unsettled sea conditions in James Bay and Rupert’s Bay, likely to continue until further notice.

Extreme caution is advised for swimmers, and boat owners must secure vessels. Motorists are advised to avoid parking near sea-front railings.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

The public are reminded of the opening times for HM Customs and Immigration located at Liberation House in Rupert’s.

Customs services are available from Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 15:00.

Immigration services operate a drop-in on Mondays and Fridays from 09:00 – 15:00, where no appointment is required. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, immigration services are offered by appointment only, and members of the public are asked to call 22287 in advance to arrange an appointment.

SHG

28 January 2026