In an age that takes air transport for granted, the British colony of St. Helena does not have the luxury of an airstrip - visitors or islanders must come or go by sea. When the Union-Castle passenger/cargo shipping service ended in 1977, the 6,500 inhabitants were left without a regular sea link. After a worldwide search, the tiny St. Helena was awarded the Royal Mail/Passenger contract and after refit carried passengers, Royal Mail and everything the islands needed on the long haul from Avonmouth in the UK to Cape Town, via the islands of St. Helena and Ascension. Finding himself at a low ebb serving aboard a cargo ship on the west coast of Africa, the author was invited to join the RMS St. Helena where he found the clock had been turned back to an idyllic lifestyle. It was not long before this unique service gained international recognition and passengers came from all over the world. In scenes reminiscent of Conrad, additional passengers were also carried on deck between Ascension and St. Helena. However, early in 1982 the vessel was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence as a minehunter support ship to the Task Force for the Falklands War.
Uprooted from the comfortable passenger cargo service, the author and his shipmates sailed into the dangers and discomforts of the South Atlantic where they were employed on mine-disposal and wreck location as mother ship to HMS Brecon and HMS Ledbury. On completion of minesweeping operations, the St. Helena returned as a mini-troop/storeship running between Ascension Island, Port Stanley and the island of South Georgia. In this area, wrecks of 19th century sailing ships littered the islands, many of which could be boarded, and the author took the opportunity to research and photograph these partially submerged or sunken ghost ships. On completion of the MoD charter, the St. Helena returned to her normal service, adding the remote island of Tristan da Cunha to her ports of call. Following a disastrous engine-room fire on Hallowe'en, 1984, the vessel was almost lost and had to be towed to Dakar for repair. Early in 1991 she was replaced by a magnificent new and considerably larger vessel, also the St. Helena. However, life on board was not the same as in the old ship and after a career of 31 years, the author reluctantly decided to leave the sea.
During his twelve years service aboard RMS St. Helena life was never dull, leaving him with affectionate and pleasurable memories of this fine ship.
- ISBN10 1904445241
- ISBN13 9781904445241
- Publish Date 4 October 2006
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 16 December 2013
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Whittles Publishing
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 128
- Language English