Bermuda Islander at sea for Christmas

It may be Christmas week for most people but for shipping crews it is business as usual.

The Bermuda Islander sets off from New Jersey tomorrow with a huge cargo of fresh produce.

The ship arrives in Hamilton on Boxing Day.

On Christmas Eve the car carrier Alioth Leader will arrive from the Dominican Republic.

The crew will help discharge 117 cars before setting off for the Bahamas the same day.

The Oleander and her 12-strong crew will be in Hamilton on Christmas Day, celebrating with a meal on board the ship.

The vessel arrived a day late due to a crane malfunction in New Jersey.

The Somers Isles arrives in Bermuda on January 4.

Sunday’s wet and windy weather did not stop the cement carrier Diego sailing into Dockyard on time. The ship left yesterday after a two-day stay.

But it did force the Pacific Princess, to dock in the West End instead of Hamilton.

The bad weather also caused cargo ship Ann-Sofie Scan to divert to Dockyard on Friday to pick up extra fuel.

The Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre helped to coordinate a rescue effort after a sailor from the Livorno Express was lost overboard on Friday,  157 miles south south-east.

A C130 rescue aircraft was dispatched and another ship, Bestere Tre, stopped to assist but the search was called off at 6pm on Saturday and he is presumed lost at sea.