#Ports&Shipping - According to the St. Helena Government, the passenger-cargoship RMS St. Helena returned to the island following a final round trip to Ascension Island yesterday.

During her call at Ascension and in commemoration of her long and established friendship and partnership with the Island, an Open Day was held onboard the RMS last Saturday, 3 February for 100 visitors. In the afternoon, the ship hosted an official cocktail party where Captain Adam Williams presented a plaque to the Administrator, Mr Nick Kennedy.

The plaque depicts the RMS St Helena crest and is inscribed: ‘Presented to the people of Ascension Island by the Master, Officers and Ratings of RMS St Helena commemorating the final call and 27 years of dedicated and loyal service to this Island – February 2018.’

In his acceptance speech, the Administrator said: “Thank you from everyone on this Island to all the crew of the RMS St Helena. Your hard work and kindness over the years has meant a huge amount to us, as I am sure you will hear from anyone you speak to this weekend. Whatever paths you choose from now on, we wish you every success. You will always have friends on Ascension.”

The plaque will be on display in the Post Office in Georgetown before being moved to the Museum.

Celebrations continued on Saturday evening with a farewell party ashore, hosted by Islanders at the Saints Club in George Town. The party was well attended and was an opportunity for RMS Officers and crew to mingle with Ascension Island residents.

A programme of events for the RMS Farewell celebrations on St Helena began last night.

For further updates and other news from the St. Helena Government click here.

Afloat.ie adds RMS St. Helena will make a historic final sailing with a departure from the remote UK overseas territory in the South Atlantic this Saturday, 10 February.

This will see the ship complete the round trip that had as previously reported had set off last month from Cape Town, South Africa. It is from this country that scheduled commercial flights began operating to the island when an airport was opened for business last October.

A sea connection will still be maintained based on the same route as of the RMS. This will be in the form of cargo-only operations to be operated by containership MV Helena which is to launch this new service on Wednesday 21st February.

The former German ship operated by AW Ship Management is to make monthly calls at St Helena over a twelve-month period and four calls to Ascension.