Ships

Mentioned on these pages

Basically my wife was immature. I’d be at home in the bath and she’d come in and sink my boats.{c}

Throughout the first 515 years of St Helena’s history ships were the only way to access St Helena. Even since the start of the scheduled commercial air service in 2017 ships still bring our supplies and many of our visitors still come by yacht or cruise ship, so ships and other vessels remain very important to St Helena.

Below are listed all the ships and other sea-going vessels mentioned elsewhere on this site, with the referring page indexed. Where a reference is to our page Chronology the data is in our Events Database.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.{d}

Ships of particular interest to St Helena are: ⋅ The Witte Leeuw ⋅ The HMS Waterwitch ⋅ The SS Papanui ⋅ The RFA Darkdale ⋅ The RMS St Helena (1978-1990) ⋅ The RMS St Helena (1990-2018) ⋅ Union Castle Line ships the Good Hope Castle, Pendennis Castle, Southampton Castle, Warwick Castle, and Windsor Castle

The Index

He who is master of the sea is master of world trade. And he who is master of world trade is master of the riches of the earth and of the earth itself.{e}

HMS Waterwitch

Monument, Castle Gardens

Brig Waterwitch, 1850{f}

The HMS Waterwitch played an important part in the interception of Slavers from 1840 until she was sunk during engagement with a Slaver in 1861. She was a 319-ton wooden sail-powered brig/sloop, formerly a private yacht purchased for the Royal Navy in November 1837, carrying 10 guns. You can learn more about Waterwitch in St Helena Connection #23, November 2017.

In December 1844 it was decided that a memorial would be erected in Castle Gardens (right) to those of her crew who died during actions against Slavers.

L’hôpital des marinaux

St Helena, like most other isolated islands, is always, and always has been available to ships in distress or with a crewmember or passenger in medical need. Indeed, in Napoleon’s time the French referred to the island as L’hôpital des marinaux (the seafarers’ hospital).

St Helena Radio{1} keeps a continuous watch on International Distress Frequencies MF 2,182KHz and VHF Channel 16. It also monitors HF channels ITU channel 1217, ITU channel 807 and ITU channel 414, providing radio assistance to visiting ships or yachts as well as local boats. It also acknowledges, relays and assists with distress calls for St Helena, Ascension Island, or for any vessels at sea within the reception range of St Helena.

If you have a medical energency and access to a Satellite Phone you could also try calling the General Hospital direct on (+290) 22500.

And more…

Below: Watch out for Leaky Ships Nautical Celebrations

Watch out for

Visiting ships need to be wary of Rollers…

Leaky Ships

Nautical Celebrations

Below: World Maritime Day International Day of the Seafarer

World Maritime Day

Despite years of maritime history, World Maritime Day on 26th September is not celebrated on St Helena.

The International Day of the Seafarer

While there are normally no celebrations organised, in June 2025 the Government of St Helena posted this:

The International Day of the Seafarer, celebrated annually on 25th June, recognises the vital contributions of seafarers to the global economy and maritime sector.

This is an opportune time to share the stories of two St Helenians who have made a career as a seafarer and work in the maritime industry.

Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams started his career as a Junior Engineer/cadet with Curnow Shipping in September 1993 where he gained extensive experience aboard the RMS St Helena (1978-1990). Kevin progressed through the ranks from 4th Engineer to Marine Engineer Superintendent whilst working for different companies across the UK on various vessels. Whilst working in his seafaring role, Kevin also earned Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Middlesex University and Sustainable Maritime Operations from the University of Plymouth, along with an Honours degree in Engineering and Management from Portsmouth University.

He is currently the Head of Research Ship Engineering/Marine Engineer Manager at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK, which is a research organisation focused on understanding and protecting our ocean, and one that recognises that a key part of having a safe maritime future is keeping the environment we operate in safe.

Julian Anthony

After six years in the Royal Navy, Julian’s passion for travel and adventure led him to the superyacht industry. His prior maritime experience quickly helped him secure a position as a deckhand, from which he advanced to Lead Deck.

For more annual events see our page This Year.

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Article: Burning of The Spangereid

Published in the St Helena Guardian 9th October 1920

The burning of the Norwegian ship Spangereid caused quite a sensation and the Wharf and Glacis were crowed with interested spectators. Although at one time it appeared as though she was going to burn out from stem to stern, the precaution taken by the captain of the vessel in having her towed into the beach, stern first and by this means preventing the fire spreading aft and then having her swamped by making two holes in her bow, saved the aft portion of the vessel entirely and will enable much valuable property to be salvaged. We congratulate the captain on his actions, which certainly prevented a total loss of cargo and ship fittings. It remains to be seen whether anything can be done with the wreck, but we rather fancy her days of work are over and she will rest peacefully beside what remains of her old friend the ‘Papanui’.