available to pensioners free of charge. Shipping The shipping traffic is of outstanding importance for Tristan da Cunha, which has no airfield. All goods and travellers can only reach the island by sea. Tristan da Cunha is approached irregularly from Cape Town by MFV Edinburgh, M/V Baltic Trader, and S. A. Agulhas II. Tristan da Cunha has with the Calshot Harbour a port in Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. The port was comprehensively renovated at the beginning of 2017. It is 2 meters deep and takes only smaller boats. All larger ships have to stay offshore and both passengers and cargo have to be transferred to small boats. Air traffic Tristan da Cunha has no airport or airstrip of any kind. The S.A Agulhas II has a helicopter which is used for transport between the ship and land. The other ships regularly visiting Tristan da Cunha don't have that, and transport ashore is done with small boats which requires waves not to be too large. See also Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha#Communications Communications in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha References External links BBC News- "Saint Helena to get first airport" Saint Helena