‘Saints’ to pass through Walvis

THE Namibian economy is expected to benefit from a change in the route of the last Royal Mail Ship in the world.

The operators of the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena, Andrew Weir Shipping (AWS), has announced that Walvis Bay will be included as a new port of call from September onwards as part of a regular round-trip route for the vessel. The RMS St Helena will remain in the South Atlantic during a year-long trial, sailing on regular round trips of 20 days between Cape Town, Walvis Bay, St Helena and Ascension Island.This change in route – for the first time in 25 years – will open up many new combinations of travel for Saint Helenians (generally called ‘Saints’) and tourists, said Captain Bill Langworthy, General Manager of AWS, with the ship’s first call at Walvis Bay last week.”The regular three-weekly call at Walvis Bay will allow us to market a coastal cargo and passenger service”.According to a study carried out last year, the call at Walvis Bay was recommended as a means of providing faster access to, and egress from, St Helena.With the nearest airfield situated 700 miles north of St Helena on the island of Ascension, ‘Saints’ will – for the first time – have the opportunity of a week’s holiday off the island within a fortnight.Langworthy said the new route removed the complication of having to wait for a flight at Ascension since daily flights were available from Walvis Bay and Windhoek to the outside world.Passengers will also be able to get off at Walvis Bay and fly to Cape Town or elsewhere for a week, fly back, and rejoin the ship at Walvis Bay to return to the island.According to Langworthy, there are plenty of options available on the new route.Namibians will be able to travel from Walvis Bay to Cape Town, stay for three days and return to Walvis Bay in seven days – or fly back.The route is also being marketed in the UK, Europe and South Africa.”We believe our new service will provide mutual and connected opportunities for business growth”.He added that the route would also increase the number of opportunities for sending cargo from the UK from a three-monthly to three-weekly service.Business and tourism representatives are positive about this new development.”This is going to bring us major business,” one of them told The Namibian.The RMS St Helena can carry 128 passengers and 2 000 tons of cargo.The Governor of St Helena, David Hollamby, who was on board the St Helena last week, had requested a trial-run to Walvis Bay.A reception was held on board to introduce the new service to tourism organisations and business people at the coast.The RMS St Helena will remain in the South Atlantic during a year-long trial, sailing on regular round trips of 20 days between Cape Town, Walvis Bay, St Helena and Ascension Island. This change in route – for the first time in 25 years – will open up many new combinations of travel for Saint Helenians (generally called ‘Saints’) and tourists, said Captain Bill Langworthy, General Manager of AWS, with the ship’s first call at Walvis Bay last week. “The regular three-weekly call at Walvis Bay will allow us to market a coastal cargo and passenger service”. According to a study carried out last year, the call at Walvis Bay was recommended as a means of providing faster access to, and egress from, St Helena. With the nearest airfield situated 700 miles north of St Helena on the island of Ascension, ‘Saints’ will – for the first time – have the opportunity of a week’s holiday off the island within a fortnight. Langworthy said the new route removed the complication of having to wait for a flight at Ascension since daily flights were available from Walvis Bay and Windhoek to the outside world. Passengers will also be able to get off at Walvis Bay and fly to Cape Town or elsewhere for a week, fly back, and rejoin the ship at Walvis Bay to return to the island. According to Langworthy, there are plenty of options available on the new route. Namibians will be able to travel from Walvis Bay to Cape Town, stay for three days and return to Walvis Bay in seven days – or fly back. The route is also being marketed in the UK, Europe and South Africa. “We believe our new service will provide mutual and connected opportunities for business growth”. He added that the route would also increase the number of opportunities for sending cargo from the UK from a three-monthly to three-weekly service. Business and tourism representatives are positive about this new development. “This is going to bring us major business,” one of them told The Namibian. The RMS St Helena can carry 128 passengers and 2 000 tons of cargo. The Governor of St Helena, David Hollamby, who was on board the St Helena last week, had requested a trial-run to Walvis Bay. A reception was held on board to introduce the new service to tourism organisations and business people at the coast.