Shipping report: Somers Isles gets an upgrade

It’s transfer week in the shipping world as the new-and-improved Somers Isles takes over from her older predecessor. 

The older ship will revert to her previous name of Eldorado once she leaves Bermuda for the last time today.

The container vessel, which has served the island loyally for the last seven years, is bound for France next, but the future of this ageing ship that was built in 1991, remains uncertain.

While the new Somers Isles, which used to be called the Ideaal, will arrive on the island for the first time on Friday.

She will load a cargo of empty containers before heading back to Fernandina Beach in Florida later the same day.

She will then take up the same schedule as the old Somers Isles bringing in supplies from Florida every week or so.

It was a busy weekend in the waters off Bermuda.

The cable ship Teneo stopped into Dockyard on Saturday morning to pick up more fibre-optic cable before heading off later the same day.

In the afternoon a sick sailor from the Bergen Trader was brought in for treatment at the other end of the island.

The bulk carrier was travelling between New Orleans with a cargo of coal when she was forced to divert to Five Fathom Hole.

At around 1:30pm the pilot boat met up with the Bergen Trader and the sick sailor was brought ashore.

On Monday the fuel tanker Berceo arrived at the Oil Docks in St George’s to deliver Liquid Propane Gas for Esso.

Today is another bumper day in the West End with the island’s two biggest cruise ships; the Breakaway and the Explorer of the Seas, descending on Dockyard for two days.

Finally, the Bermuda Islander will arrive in Hamilton tomorrow and the Oleander will make up the week’s schedule when she arrives on Sunday afternoon.