Why We Chose RMS St Helena
At Terra Nova Expeditions, our philosophy is simple: travel with purpose, operate with integrity, and make conscious choices that reflect our values. Our decision to bring the RMS St Helena into our fleet is rooted in that ethos.
This remarkable vessel has a long and storied legacy—originally built to connect the remote island of Saint Helena with the outside world, she was engineered to carry both passengers and cargo reliably across vast ocean distances in the inhospitable waters of the Atlantic. When her official service ended, she was acquired by the electric racing championship Extreme E, who saw her potential not as a relic, but as a platform for a more sustainable future.
Rather than scrapping or replacing her, Extreme E invested in repurposing the ship—retrofitting her engines, updating her systems, and enhancing her efficiency with sustainability in mind. Their aim was to reduce reliance on air freight and lower the overall environmental impact of logistics operations. Their work preserved the vessel’s soul while adapting her for a new mission—and that’s exactly the legacy we want to continue.
We didn’t undertake her transformation, but we chose her because of it.
RMS St Helena represents the kind of thinking we admire: reuse over replace, purpose over polish. She’s a rare breed—a vessel capable of reaching the world’s most remote places while carrying both guests and gear with self-sufficiency and grace. With her onboard cranes, robust build, and unique mix of cargo and passenger capabilities, she’s perfectly suited to the expeditionary model we believe in. Her extended range allows us to take her further a true expedition vessel modified for the modern traveller. With all the buzz about sustainable shipping, repurposing an older vessel actually is up to 10 x more efficient than a new build in terms of carbon footprint.
By bringing St Helena into the Terra Nova fleet, we’re not just acquiring a ship—we’re continuing a story of thoughtful innovation and environmental responsibility. She aligns with our mission to operate consciously, travel deeper, and offer experiences that matter.
“There’s something special about a ship with history, character, and a renewed sense of purpose. St Helena embodies what Terra Nova is all about—going further with less, and doing it with meaning.”
— Greg Carter, Founder, Terra Nova Expeditions
The ship’s journey of reinvention continues under Terra Nova’s stewardship. With the owners we have modified her to include a dedicated science lab and operational space, enabling onboard research and real-time data collection in the Southern Ocean. We're proud to partner with scientific institutions from around the world, offering berths for young researchers and emerging scientists to gain real-world field experience. This isn’t just a passenger voyage—it’s a platform for knowledge, discovery, and impact. And we’re only just getting started.
