Storied Somers Isles to make final Bermuda voyage

She’s covered more than 420,000 nautical miles and brought in around 32,700 containers of food and supplies to Hamilton.

But after seven years of dodging hurricanes and sailing through Atlantic storms the Somers Isles will make her final trip to the island next week.

The container ship has made hundreds of voyages between Fernandina Beach in Florida and Bermuda since she first started service for Somers Isles Shipping Ltd in November 2006.

She even shipped in an $18 million private submarine to Hamilton in July 2007 that was picked up by US businessman and co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen’s mega-yacht, Octopus. The sub and its container weighed around 45 tons and required both cranes at the dock to lift it onto land.

Over the years the Somers Isles has also brought in cars, swimming pools, boats and construction materials too.

The Dutch container ship that was built in 1991 is now reaching the end of her useful working life and has become too costly to run. She has been sold on the open market, and although it’s not clear who has bought the ship and what she will be used for, it is understood that she will sail to France once she leaves Bermuda next week.

She will also revert to her old name, Eldorado, when she stops working for SISL. 

Blair Simmons, Vice President of Vessel Operations for SISL told the Bermuda Sun: “Since late 2006 this ship has been a workhorse for Somers Isles Shipping Ltd, safely and reliably delivering all manner of cargo to the people of Bermuda. Regrettably the ship is now starting to show her age and has become more and more costly for the owners to maintain.

“Therefore earlier this year it was decided that they would sell the ship on.

“SISL extends their appreciation to the Master and crew of the retiring ship and to the owners for their dedication and support over the past seven years.”

The Somers Isles will make her final journey to Bermuda next week.

She left Fernandina Beach yesterday and is due to arrive at Hamilton Docks next Wednesday before she sails out through Two Rock Passage for the last time a week today.