Schedules and fares for the few ships that regularly travel between Cape Town and Tristan da Cunha.

Cape Town - Tristan da Cunha Shipping Schedule

Scheduled ships run from from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha and return. All vessels but one are provided by the fishing company Ovenstone Agencies. Presently these vessels are the fishing vessels MFV Edinburgh (which carries out extended fishing trips to the outer islands of Inaccessible, Nightingale and Gough in the fishing season) and MV Lance which undertakes cargo operations. These ships each only carry up to 12 passengers (subject to COVID constraints).

The other ship is the South African Antarctic Research and Supply Vessel SA Agulhas II, which calls at Tristan da Cunha during the outward and return legs of its annual voyage to relieve the metereological station on Gough Island. She carries over 40 passengers to Tristan (42 in 2014).

Ships are booked many months in advance and you are advised to read carefully the 'Passenger Policy' below regarding priorities which may mean that berths may be cancelled at short notice.

Check carefully the visits section to plan your Tristan da Cunha voyage with care!

Find out more about the ships on our separate Ships Page.

Latest Provisional Shipping Schedule

All ships normally carry mail, cargo and passengers. All dates are provisional and to be confirmed.

2023

 
 
Itinerary		 MV
Lance		 MFV
Edin-
burgh		 MV
Lance		 MV
Lance		 SA
Agulhas II
 Future Voyages
ETD
Cape Town		 18 Jan 02 Feb 20 Apr 22 Jun 07 Sep Details will be posted in 2023 as soon as they have been confirmed.
ETA
Tristan		 26 Jan 09 Feb 28 Apr 30 Jun 12 Sep
ETD
Tristan		 07 Feb 13 Mar 04 May 06 Jul 05 Oct
ETA
Cape Town		 14 Feb 19 Mar 11 May 13 Jul 10 Oct

Important Notes

Most of the restrictions on travel to Tristan imposed during the COVID pandemic have been lifted. Visitors need to be fully vaccinated and (where applicable) have any relevant boosters. However, there is no longer a need to quarantine, although negative test results may be required before boarding.

Epic Journey

A journey to Tristan da Cunha is always by ship. The 2810 km or 1750 mile journey from Cape Town harbour will normally take six days.

A landing after the passage depends on the weather, although the Agulhas II normally flies passengers ashore immediately by helicopter, except in severe weather conditions. All dates are provisional.
The Fair Cape: Tristan journeys start and end in the beautiful Table Bay Harbour Cape Town, South Africa. Long awaited: The world's most isolated community regards the arrival of every ship as a special occasion.

Cape Town - Tristan da Cunha Passenger Fares (Subject to confirmation)

SA Agulhas (Updated 28th May 2014)

 Single   Return
a. Concession Rate : available to passengers with close family or official links
  Adult : Rand 1200   Rand 2400
  Child (6 - 15 years) Children under 6 free Rand 600   Rand 1200
b. Ordinary Rate
  Adult Rand 4475   Rand 8950
  Child (6 - 15 years) Children under 6 free Rand 2250   Rand 4500

MV Lance or MFV Edinburgh
a. Concession Rate : Resident Islanders only
  Adult : Medevac US$ 70   US$ 140
  Child : Medevac (2 - 15 years) Children under 2 free US$ 35   US$ 70
  Adult : Other US$ 87.50   US$ 175
  Child (2 - 15 years) Children under 2 free US$ 43.75   US$ 87.50
b. Official Rate : Expatriate temporary residents, and any non-resident with close family or official links.
  Adult US$ 250   US$ 500
  Child (2 - 15 years) Children under 2 free US$ 125   US$ 250
c. Tourist Rate : Passengers with no family or official links with Tristan da Cunha
  Adult US$ 500   US$ 1000
  Child (2 - 15 years) Children under 2 free US$ 250   US$ 500

Travel Policy: Passenger Priority

Passenger spaces on vessels are limited and are allocated in the following order of priority

1. Medevac
(Priority)		 The Chief Medical Officer must give the patient, suffering from serious illness/condition, a formal referral letter to see a consultant overseas
2. Official
(Priority)		 The Administrator certifies the need for an official to attend important Island business
3. Private (urgent business)
– Islander & Non Resident Islander		 The Administrator recommends that the person attend urgent private business overseas e.g. weddings
4. Medevac
(non priority treatment)		 The Chief Medical Officer must give the patient suffering from a less serious illness/condition a formal referral letter to see a consultant overseas
5. Official
(non priority)		 The Administrator certifies the need for an official to attend to Island business.
6. Private (non priority travel)
- Resident Islander		 Holiday
7. Private (non priority travel)
– Non Resident Islander		 Holiday
8. Private (non priority travel)
– Visitor		 Holiday/Tourists
If you are in category 4 to 8 above, you may be required to give up your booking and defer your travel to another sailing for those covered by category 1-3.

Notes

  1. All applications to visit Tristan da Cunha should be submitted to the Administrator's Office, and require the prior approval of the Island Council. Subsequent Travel Bookings and requests for concessionary fare rates must also be made via the Administrator's Office. See Arranging a Visit Page
  2. Passenger tickets for SA Agulhas will be issued by Table Bay Marine, Cape Town
  3. Passenger tickets for Edinburgh / Geo Searcher will be issued by Ovenstones, Cape Town or the Factory, Tristan da Cunha
  4. Close family links are understood to refer to a passenger plus spouse and dependants who have parents, grandparents, children, sisters, brothers, aunts or uncles resident on Tristan.
  5. For further information on the ships themselves check out the Scheduled Ships Page