ARRIVING BY SEA
Whether arriving by cruise ship or yacht, St Helena is accessible through the Island’s capital, Jamestown.
Our cruise ship season starts from October and ends in April.
There is no breakwater in James Bay, all visiting cruise ships drop anchor in the bay and passengers are tendered ashore.
When you arrive within 20nm of St Helena, you should call St Helena Radio on VHF Channel 16 to confirm your arrival and seek Customs/Immigration clearance.
You should fly a ʻQʼ flag (yellow) until you have gained pratique. Yachts may be boarded by Port Authority/Immigration/Customs officers or you may be directed to report ashore at an appointed time. The visitorsʼ moorings are allocated by the Harbour Master.
Should you arrive during normal working hours, try calling on VHF Channel 14 and speak to the Harbour Master directly.
The Harbour Master or St Helena Yacht Services will direct you to one of the numbered moorings, dependent on your LOA and tonnage.
Should you arrive during the night and the Harbour Master is not available, you may pick up any free red/yellow buoy until morning.
You will find a 25mm galvanised mooring ring on the buoy, to which you should attach your own mooring lines.
Interested in joining the Oyster World Ralley which stops of at St Helena? Visit Sailing to St Helena to find out more.
Skippers MUST navigate in accordance with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). The following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum – Admiralty Chart 1771) will place you just to the north of the visitorsʼ mooring field which is located to the west of Ladder Hill point, between the 10m and 20m contours:
015º 55ʼ.400S – 005º 43ʼ.500W
When approaching James Bay from the east, yachts should stay clear of the charted mooring and anchoring areas. Be aware when arriving during the hours of darkness or in conditions of reduced visibility, that vessels on the moorings are not lit and that some
moorings in the area off Mundenʼs Point are not charted. Keep a lookout for fishing pots along the coast.
Rollers and heavy swell are most common between December and March. In the event of an extreme weather event or high rollers, the Harbour Master may direct yachts to evacuate the moorings. Failure to obey the directions of the Harbourmaster or an Officer of the Crown (Police/Customs/Immigration) is an offence under the Harbour/Police Ordinances and may render you liable to arrest and/or prosecution.
Yachts will be required to pay the following fees to the Harbour Master for which a receipt must be issued:
Harbour / Light Dues: £35.00 for the first month and £10.00 per month for an additional month after.
Yachts / Vessels over 2,000 tones: £1.80 per 100 tone.
Mooring Fee Yellow Buoys (First night free): £2.00 per night
Moring Fee Red Buoys (First night free) £3.00 per night
Please note that only the Harbour Master or Assistant Harbour Master are empowered to allocate or direct yachts to a particular mooring.
St Helena Radio, Police Officers, Immigration Officers or Customs Officers may give directions in an emergency