That sound you're hearing is the RMS St Helina, the ship that for 40 years was the only way on or off the island of St. Helina, making its final

departure from the island.

On that day, February 10th, 2018, the entire island came out to see their beloved ship one last time.

It was an emotional event.

For decades, the RMS had been the pride of the island and its only link to the outside world.

But not being the tight for wallowing, the Saints turned that final voyage into a celebration.

There was music, dancing, speeches, fireworks, and even a comedy sketch that

involve islanders dressing up as the RMS. Following all that, the RMS St Helina sailed

towards Cape Town carrying its last ever load of passengers off the island.

To understand why this ship was so important to the island of St Helina, we have to go backaways.

After the British East India Company became defunct in the later 19th century, the island of

St Helina was served by ships from a company called the Union Castle Line, a British business that operated

cargo and passenger ships running between Europe and Africa.

When the ships would run between South Africa and England, they would stop by St Helina to drop off and pick

up people and supplies.

But as time went on, an airplane travel grew increasingly prevalent, fewer and

fewer ships needed to make that journey.

In 1977, the Union Castle line officially, permanently, ended its route to St. Helena. To the Union line,

to St Helina.

To the Union Castle line, that decision was of little consequence.

It just meant they would save a bit of money not stopping on a remote little island,

but for the people of St Helina it was catastrophic.

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