RMS St Helena
The RMS St Helena occupies a singular place in maritime history: the last ship built in Aberdeen, she served as the lifeline to the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena for nearly three decades. Constructed at the Hall, Russell & Company shipyard and launched in 1989, she was designed to carry both passengers and cargo, bridging vast ocean distances to connect this tiny island thousands of miles from anywhere.
Serving as both a cargo vessel and passenger ship, 'the RMS’ as she was affectionately called by St Helenians, was more than just a means of transport—it was a floating community. With berths for up to 155 passengers and the capacity to carry 92 standard 20-foot containers, including refrigerated units, the ship ensured the steady flow of goods, people and even animals, to and from the island. Over 27 years, it completed 268 voyages, covering approximately 2.5 million miles and transporting over 100,000 passengers.
We had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Honan CBE, who served as Governor of St Helena during the RMS's final years. She shared, "The RMS was more than just a ship; it was a floating piece of home for many. Its departure was a poignant moment, symbolising both progress and the closing of a significant chapter in the island's history. The island moved into the aviation era with the opening of the airport, and while islanders were pleased to be better connected, many were sad to say goodbye to their great friend the RMS."
In its 500 year history, Lisa was St Helena’s first female Governor and so far the only one. Interestingly, the RMS fell under the purview of the Governor—a unique responsibility. Recalling her journey to assume her Governor role, Lisa described a particularly memorable, and somewhat terrifying, experience:
“I got up-close-and-personal with the RMS. En route to St Helena the journey went via another part of the archipelago for which I was Governor, that of Tristan da Cunha. We had to anchor offshore and to disembark, I had to climb down the side of the RMS on a precarious rope ladder. The first time I did this my heart was in my mouth. The sea was very rough and I had to wait for the cue from the steady Tristanian fisherman to step off into the waiting RIB. One false move and that would have been the end of the Governor before she even started in the job”
Lisa climbing down the outside of the RMS
She went on to reminisce about her many journeys on the RMS. “Life on board was a waiting game…waiting the six days to get to the island. Who would be the first to spot the island? But we whiled away the time with deck cricket, frog racing (cardboard frogs don’t worry), beef tea, and watching for whales. Each day was punctured at midday by the Captain’s announcement telling us the depth underneath the ship. We were open-mouthed in awe."
Lisa talks about one detail that has always intrigued her. When the RMS majestically sailed out of Aberdeen harbour at the start of her career, one particularly distinctive feature was her emblem—the Merlion. She recalls islanders affectionately called it the “pregnant prawn,” but to Lisa, who gives walking tours about the East India Company in London, it evoked something else entirely.
The RMS logo
“I always found it odd,” she says, “that a British government-funded ship serving a British island once ruled by the East India Company should carry a symbol so close to that of the Company’s—especially when the Company’s own lion-and-crown emblem was widely seen as a symbol of how much power it held over the Crown. People used to call it ‘the cat and the cheese’—the Company was the cat, and the Crown the cheese. It was a way of showing who was really in charge. Perhaps records in Aberdeen hold the answer”
The East India Company (EIC) logo
The decommissioning of the RMS in 2018 was a momentous event for St Helena. The island declared a public holiday, and farewell celebrations spanned several days, including church services, parades, and performances by the ship's crew.As the RMS departed for the final time, a flotilla of boats accompanied her, and spectators lined the shores to bid farewell.The ship's departure marked the end of an era, leaving many islanders with a profound sense of loss.
Today, the RMS St Helena continues her journey under new colours. Acquired by Extreme E, she went on to serve as the mobile base for an electric off-road racing series, transporting vehicles and equipment to remote race locations. In 2019, she sailed up the Thames, passing through Tower Bridge to moor alongside HMS Belfast, heralding her new role in promoting sustainable motorsport.
The RMS St Helena may no longer sail the seas in her original capacity, but her legacy endures—in the memories of those who sailed on her, the communities she connected, and the history she represents. And that history has come full circle because as part of the Tall Ships Races, Lisa is helping the Aberdeen Line 200 Committee to highlight Aberdeen’s maritime heritage including, of course, her beloved RMS. Check out their marquee at the Discovery zone and visit the website.
