Bermuda Islander comes to the rescue

A new service to ship goods from Europe to Bermuda has been launched, the Bermuda Sun can reveal.

The move comes after Atlantic Container Line pulled out of the Bermuda market at the end of January.

The new link sees Bermuda International Shipping Ltd, which operates the Bermuda Islander, join forces with Independent Container Line (ICL).

And it will involve the Islander stopping briefly in Chester, Pennsylvania, on its round trip between the island and Salem in New Jersey to pick up containers originating in the UK and Europe.

The service means that suppliers in Bermuda should receive goods from the UK within 19 days of making an order, while containers originating in Europe should take around 22 days.

George Butterfield, manager for Meyer Freight — BISL’s agent — said that the change would not affect the Islander’s schedule.

He added: “With ACL pulling out of the Bermuda market, local businesses petitioned us to find alternate routing.

“For many years, BISL and ICL have been providing service from the UK and Europe via Chester, Pennsylavania for US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved cargo only.

“These containers were transported between ports by road.

“As the Bermuda Islander has flexibility in her schedule, effective March 2, once the vessel departs from Bermuda, she will sail to Penn Terminals in Chester to load ICL transshipment containers.

“This will alleviate the FDA’s prior notice requirements.

“Once operations are complete, the Islander will make the short transit to Salem, NJ for her scheduled Monday morning arrival and Monday evening departure arriving in Bermuda on Thursday mornings. This new service has been welcomed by UK shippers and local importers.”