Passengers help ensure schedule integrity

KEVIN MAYHEW THE NEED for tight and on-time schedules to meet the demands of passengers on passenger/cargo services maintains reliability, according to Andrew Weir Shipping (AWS), operator and manager of the Royal Mail Ship St Helena on behalf of St Helena Line. It provides schedules up to 2008, says London-based AWS. While the number of calls at Walvis Bay has been reduced to comply with St Helena government requirements, time has been allowed for voyages via Luderitz Bay subject to inducement. “Even allowing for this call, the ship will still maintain the published dates as it always has to meet the travel plans of its passengers,” says AWS. With a regular service between Cape Town, Walvis Bay, St Helena and Ascension Island, the St Helena provides capacity for 20ft and 40ft reefer units, up to a maximum gross weight of 35 tonnes per unit. The vessel is fitted with 25 reefer sockets on deck and in holds.