RMS St Helena - Doing our bit - Navigational & Meteorological Procedures

Although it may not seem so, even some of our navigational procedures are executed with the protection of the environment in mind. When arriving at the South Atlantic Islands of St. Helena and Ascension we attempt to anchor as near to the same location as always in a bid to cause as little damage and disturbance as possible to the seabed.

Around these islands there are numerous wrecks and habitats, and apart from their historical and economic (tourism) value, they are in fact, home to various marine creatures and ecosystems. Even the ship's voyage schedule has now been changed to reduce consumption of precious hydrocarbon fuels. In some cases the voyage length has been extended by almost a full 24 hours, making it sometimes possible for the vessel to run on one main engine rather than two and to reduce the need for running both the main diesel generators and the main engines simultaneously.

In recent months and years the cost and consumption of hydrocarbon fuels have steadily increased globally. More and more of these precious resources are being extracted from their natural reserves every year. We believe that every drop we save today can only be a good thing, regardless how little it seems in the global scheme of things. On a daily basis and in association with the UK Met Office we collect, collate and report meteorological data that is then used for forecasting weather patterns and to predict and monitor global climate changes. This is particularly useful to our navigation as, from these forecasts we can prepare for or avoid dangerous weather conditions, which could cause damage to the vessel or her cargo; therefore reducing the risk of possible environmental pollution incidents.

Indirectly, the data collected could also help scientists track changes in global climate trends, which will inevitably effect the natural environment, enabling them to prepare contingency plans for predicted global disasters. This vital information may also enable scientists to understand and combat the disastrous effects of the phenomenon known as global warming.