Tristan da Cunha Shipping News

Governor joins 'final' RMS St Helena voyage to Tristan

Last RMS ST Helena voyage to Tristan da Cunha

Her Excellency Lisa Phillips, Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is on board RMS St Helena as the vessel makes its final voyage to Tristan da Cunha, departing Cape Town on Friday 29th December 2017. This will be her first visit to Tristan as Governor, but she visited the island as Governor-Designate in April 2016, prior to arriving on St Helena to be sworn in as Governor on 25th April 2016.

HE Lisa Phillips above and, right, with Tristan Islander Ernie Repetto on 19th April 2016 as he celebrated his 90th birthday

RMS St Helena Voyage 267 (the pentultimate voyage of the RMS St Helena prior to the ship's de-commissioning the following month), was re-scheduled to include a final visit to Tristan da Cunha after it was known that scheduled passenger flights to St Helena would commence from October 2017.

The vessel is expected to arrive at Tristan on Wednesday 3rd January for a three day stay, departing on Friday 5th and then continuing to St Helena. It is hoped that good weather will allow passengers to come ashore on arrival and have the opportunity to stay on the island for two nights to enjoy a packed programme of planned events.

Unfortunately, a similar 3-day visit in April 2016 was cut down to only a few hours ashore as high seas prevented the programme going ahead.

Central to the programme will be a meeting of Tristan Island Council for the Governor to take part in important discussions about future plans for the island. This will include plans for Tristan to develop a marine protection zone under the UK's 'Blue Belt' programme, as well as island infrastructure and economy matters.

Sarah Cash's photo shows the RMS St Helena off Tristan in 2013.
Sarah and her husband Barry are also aboard this 'final' voyage.

Visit of the Yacht Karma

Report and photos from Tina Glass

Yacht Karma at anchor off the settlement.	The Karma's crew coming ashore in Calshot Harbour.

The yacht Karma called in at Tristan on Tuesday 12th December 2017 with two gentlemen on board from the Netherlands. Due to favourable weather they came ashore for a few hours and had the opportunity to have a wander around the village. They were able to stock up with groceries for the remainder of their trip. We don't normally get yachts this early in the season but it was lovely to welcome them here.

The yacht was en route from Recife, Brazil to Cape Town.

If you were on the Karma, we would appreciate receiving your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.