Shipping: Stocking up for Cup Match

While this week marks the end of the good ship ‘BDA Sun’, it’s just another week on the seas for the tireless crews that service Bermuda. 

All three container ships descend on Hamilton to fill up the supermarket shelves and replenish stocks ahead of the big Cup Match holiday.

The Somers Isles, complete with tractor, boat and 100-plus containers, arrived yesterday.

She heads off today and is replaced by the Bermuda Islander in the capital.

Meanwhile the Oleander heads into town from New Jersey on Sunday afternoon with cars, trailers and tanks as well as 150 containers.

While the names of these three ships are familiar to most, the unstinting work of the crews, who often work six-month stints without seeing home, as well as their local agents, can sometimes go unnoticed.

The reality is this largely unsung work is vital to every islander every day and these guys are a credit to their profession.

There will be the usual contingent of cruise ships including the Norwegian Breakaway, Celebrity Summit,  Norwegian Dawn and Explorer of the Seas.