The Bermuda-Islander: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a dramatic rescue operation, the crew of the 'Bermuda Islander' successfully saved former Olympic windsurfer Demetris Lappas, 33, on February 9, 2026. Lappas was attempting a challenging journey from Antigua to Bermuda aboard the sailing yacht 'Alcyon Blue' (MMSI: 212984097) when disaster struck approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Bermuda. On February 7, the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a concerning email from the yacht’s skipper, who reported an engine failure amidst treacherous weather conditions. By February 8, conditions worsened, leading to additional sail damage and leaving Lappas beset by dizziness and nausea due to the rough seas. Faced with deteriorating circumstances, the sailor activated the distress beacon and signaled an emergency abandonment of the yacht, which was located about 132 miles southeast of Bermuda at that time. The Bermuda Rescue Coordination Centre responded promptly by notifying nearby vessels, including the floating library ship 'Logos Hope' (IMO: 7302914) and the outbound 'Bermuda Islander'—which had just departed Bermuda that afternoon. The container ship arrived first on February 9 at around 1:00 a.m., navigating through waves over 20 feet high. In light of the challenging sea conditions, the captain prudently chose to wait for calmer waters and the arrival of 'Logos Hope'. After several attempts, the 'Bermuda Islander' managed to position itself alongside the drifting 'Alcyon Blue,' successfully bringing Lappas aboard by approximately 10:00 a.m. Following a thorough medical checkup, it was confirmed that Lappas was uninjured, and the container ship continued its journey to Salem, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Bermuda Radio issued a navigational warning, informing vessels of the abandoned and adrift status of 'Alcyon Blue', which remained 184 nautical miles southeast of Bermuda.

On May 30, 2021, the 'Bermuda Islander' experienced rudder damage while en route from Bermuda to Salem. Upon arrival, emergency repairs were initiated directly at the quay to address the critical issue. Meanwhile, the vessel's urgent cargo containers were promptly transferred to Port Elizabeth and successfully reached Bermuda by June 7. As part of its recovery plan, a charter vessel is scheduled to handle the regular shipping service starting June 21.

The container ship 'Bermuda Islander' experienced a mechanical mishap while being transitioned from dry dock at BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville, but thankfully, it has emerged without any damage. This incident unfolded around January 24, 2016, when the rail system supporting the vessel failed during routine maintenance. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the vessel remains intact. While the timeline for the 'Bermuda Islander' to return to active duty is still unclear, the shipyard is diligently working to assess the situation and expedite the undocking process. On January 27, Meyer Freight announced that it would not be able to fulfill this week's scheduled journey from Florida to Bermuda. To ensure continuity, BISL cargo originating from Salem is now being transported via the 'Somers Isles'. While regular service is expected to resume next week, delays are anticipated due to the recent hiccup. A substitute vessel has been arranged to cover the SISL service from Fernandina Beach, with its voyage set for February 5, arriving in Bermuda on February 9. Once the 'Bermuda Islander' is back in the water, both the 'Somers Isles' and 'Bermuda Islander' will resume their designated routes.

On the evening of August 24, 2015, the container ship "Bermuda Islander" found itself in distress after losing power and propulsion, resulting in it running aground on the Delaware River near Salem City, New Jersey. While navigating between Bermuda and Salem County, the vessel encountered trouble around 9 p.m. and subsequently became wedged in shallow waters, with a crew of 12 aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard strategically timed the recovery efforts for high tide, which occurred at 8:30 a.m. on August 25. They initiated towing operations to guide the vessel back to deeper waters, located approximately three to four miles north of the Salem Nuclear Power Plant. Thanks to the skilled efforts of Donjon Marine, the "Bermuda Islander" was successfully re-floated and secured in Salem, New Jersey, where it will undergo further inspection to assess any potential damage. For more in-depth coverage, including photo and video footage of the rescue operation, you can visit the following links: [6abc News](http://6abc.com/news/cargo-ship-runs-aground-on-the-delaware-river/956002/#videoplayer) and [NJ.com](http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2015/08/ships_ahoy_stuck_cargo_vessel_rescued_by_us_coast.html).