Cape Town - Tristan da Cunha Shipping Schedule
Scheduled ships run from from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha and return. All but one are vessels provided by the fishing company Ovenstones which each carry only 12 passengers. Presently the only ship is the fishing vessel MFV Edinburgh (which carries out extended fishing trips to the outer islands of Inaccessible, Nightingale and Gough in the fishing season).
The final trip is the annual Gough Island relief voyage, provided from 2012 by the South African Antarctic Research and Supply Vessel Agulhas II which calls at Tristan da Cunha on its outward and return voyage and 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.
2021
| MV Baltic Trader |
MFV Edin- burgh |
MFV Edin- burgh |
MFV Edin- burgh |
SA Agulhas II |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETD Cape Town |
16 Jan | 18 Mar | 29 Apr | 10 Jun | 14 Sep |
The impact of global travel restrictions arising from the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic mean that dates for the rest of 2021 are still being considered. For the foreseeable future, there will be no passengers other than islanders and those on essential business for the Government of Tristan da Cunha. |
| ETA Tristan |
26 Jan | 25 Mar | 06 May | 17 Jun | 19 Sep | |
| ETD Tristan |
30 Jan | 02 Apr | 14 May | 25 Jun | 14 Oct | |
| ETA Cape Town |
09 Feb | 08 Apr | 20 May | 01 Jul | 19 Oct |
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 normally flies passengers ashore immediately, 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 | ||
MFV Edinburgh or MV Baltic Trader |
||||||
| 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 linksx | ||||||
| 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 PriorityPassenger 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
- 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
- Passenger tickets for SA Agulhas will be issued by Table Bay Marine, Cape Town
- Passenger tickets for Edinburgh / Geo Searcher will be issued by Ovenstones, Cape Town or the Factory, Tristan da Cunha
- 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.
- For further information on the ships themselves check out the Scheduled Ships Page