Shipping schedule returns to normal after Hurricane Sandy

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7: The island’s three container ships are all back up and running this week after the carnage of Hurricane Sandy.

The Bermuda Islander arrived on Sunday afternoon and left the next day to make up for lost time.

The Somers Isles came alongside in Hamilton yesterday with more food and supplies and she is scheduled to head back to Florida on Thursday morning. While the Oleander, which was forced to cancel her last weekend voyage, is expected to leave New Jersey on Friday and get into the capital on Monday morning.

A statement released earlier this week by Bermuda Container Line stated: “We are happy to report that Maher terminals, our terminal in New Jersey, is open and operational. They started clearing the backlog of vessels on Sunday, and we are in line to be discharged Wednesday morning.

“At this point I can confidently say that we will be sailing on Friday November 9 with arrival in Bermuda November 12.

“As this is a holiday, we will be requesting a morning gate to assist our customers.

“This will be confirmed later in the week.”

Hurricane Sandy may have prompted some cruise ships to cancel their trips to the island.

But is also led to the unexpected but welcome arrivals of the Norwegian Gem last Sunday.

The ship arrived at first light and left Dockyard on Monday at 4pm bound for New York.

Later this week the cruise liner Regatta will arrive in Hamilton on her back from the US.

She had been due to come into Bermuda last week but cancelled because of the hurricane.

But she will be in the capital for most of Sunday before she heads off to St Barts.