A ship carrying motor-racing cars for international teams including one belonging to Lewis Hamilton has arrived in Falmouth.

The British passenger ship St Helena is Extreme E’s new floating paddock for the organisation’s series of exciting motorsport races in five different remote and often hostile territories around the world.

The new sport is an FIA-sanctioned international off-road racing series that uses spec electric SUVs to race in remote parts of the world, such as the Amazon rainforest or the Arctic.

Motorsports fans will be able to follow the Extreme-E race series when it makes its debut on the BBC and Sky TV next month.

Six-Time Formula One World Champion, Lewis Hamilton has created his very own race team, X44, which will make its debut in Extreme E, the groundbreaking new electric off-road racing series.

Named with reference to Lewis’s own racing number, X44 will enter Season 1 of the Extreme E but Hamilton will take more of a backseat apart from giving advice and not be involved in the day to day operations whilst concentrating on his Formula One racing.

Falmouth Packet:

An example of an Extreme E car. Picture: David Merrett

Onboard St Helena is a unique cargo loaded at Liverpool. It comprises freight from teams and partners, and items include its race fleet of electric vehicles Odyssey 21 E-SUV’s, Air Shelta tents which will form the team garages, the podium, the start gantry, TV and broadcast equipment, three machines to turn plastic waste into the championship’s trophies, two custom BRIG Eagle 8 carbon black support boats, a hydrogen fuel cell for zero-emission car charging.

The battery-electric, 400kw (550hp), 1650-kilogram, 2.3-metre wide E-SUV is bespoke from the ground up. Capable of firing from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, at gradients of up to 130 percent, it’s unlike anything else out there.

St Helena arrived at Falmouth Docks on Monday from Liverpool after a two year multi-million pound renovation project in the Cammell yard at Birkenhead.

She was one of the last ships in the UK to sport the prefix RMS (Royal Mail Ship) in front of her name. Built specifically to provide a lifeline to the islanders of St Helena and Tristan da Cunha the British built ship served the islands well until a new airport was built on St Helena.

The vessel has tangible links with Falmouth as she was once managed by Curnow Shipping Limited from their office in Killigrew Street.

From Falmouth the ship heads east for Saudi Arabia where the first motor race Desert X-Prix begins on April 3rd.

After Saudi Arabia, she will go back through the Mediterranean to Senegal (Ocean X-Prix), across to Greenland (Arctic X-Prix), down to the Amazon (Rainforest X-Prix) and then further south to the final destination of the season in Tierra del Fuego, for the Glacier X-Prix.

The five locations are all chosen to highlight a range of ecological issues each region faces due to climate change. By using the latest technology apart from watching the Race the public will learn first hand about environmental issues affecting each region that Extreme-E wishes to support through scientific study.

Falmouth Packet:

Lewis Hamilton owns an Extreme E team. Picture: PA Images

Speaking in Liverpool before the ship’s departure former Spanish politician turned businessman Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Today I feel extremely proud. The departure of the St. Helena marks the start of her new voyage. Extreme E’s first season is now officially underway.

“This has been a massive project and she really is unrecognisable from when we purchased her back in 2018. She is unmistakably part of Extreme E with the exterior branding, and the internal refit looks incredible. One of my favourite features of the ship is the creation of a science laboratory, which replaces the original swimming pool, and I’m delighted that from Saudi Arabia we will have a variety of scientists on-board conducting oceanic research projects.

“I have always had a love for the ocean, which was inspired by documentaries featuring the French biologist, Jacques Cousteau. He made me dream because he had a boat, he had the Calypso, and my dream is that the St. Helena becomes the new Calypso of the 21st century.”

Alejandro Agag continued: “Last year, Extreme E in cooperation with Enel Foundation, the championship’s Founding Scientific Partner, invited scientists to apply for space on the ship to conduct research connected to advancing climate science in its on board laboratory during the voyage. In total, seven projects managed by 14 scientists have been selected to join the voyage. The seven projects will each focus on a different area of ocean research, with full details to be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition, there are 62 cabins which can sleep up to 175 people, two lounges, an 80-seater restaurant, a 100-seater exterior deck, an 80-seater presentation area plus capacity to carry 90 20-foot shipping containers. A crew of 50 people will live and work on board the St Helena over the course of her voyage. There is also a hydroponic system on board in the kitchens which will enable the Chef to grow the vessel’s own herbs and garnishes.”

Under the management of Curnow Shipping the ship called here a few times to load cargo and drydock. The company ran the both ships of the name from 1977 until 1999. Then at the specific direction of the then Secretary of State at the Department for International Development in December 1999, Curnow Shipping Limited, which had had been entrusted with the management of a £32 million grant-in-aid passenger cargo ship was, at her direction, excluded from tendering for the fourth contract to run from August 2001. Andrew Weir, a well-known international shipping company then took over the reins.