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a base in the Falklands that controls access to Cape Horn
Do ships still sail around Cape Horn?
AI Overview
Yes, ships still sail around Cape Horn, but it is no longer a regular commercial route. Today, it is primarily used by cruise ships, luxury expeditions, and yachts (often for tourist travel, like Quark Expeditions), yachts, or specialized vessels that cannot fit through the Panama Canal.
Key Details on Modern Navigation
Purpose: It is now seen as an adventure or a way to visit Antarctica rather than a necessary trade route.
Commercial Use: While rare, some ultra-large, fully laden cargo ships or tankers (like Capesize vessels) might use this route, though many prefer the safer, shorter Strait of Magellan, according to some Quora users.
Navy Ships: Some, including U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, use the route, as mentioned in a
Reddit discussion.
Hazardous: Despite modern technology, the area remains dangerous, with severe weather, high waves, and potential icebergs.
Sailing: The last commercial cargo-carrying sailing vessel rounded the horn in 1949, and it is now entirely in the realm of tourism or adventure racing, say sources like this YouTube video.
Alternatives
Panama Canal: The primary route for almost all ocean-going trade between the Atlantic and Pacific.
Strait of Magellan: A popular, safer alternative to Cape Horn that is still hazardous but far better than the open ocean.
