The Oleander rumbled into Hamilton yesterday morning battered but unbowed after enduring a treacherous crossing to ensure her vital cargo arrived in Bermuda.

The container ship and its 14-strong crew endured 75-knot gales and 36-foot rolling seas as they battled against the back end of the winter storm Neptune.

Captain Jacek Jurszo described how the vessel “surfed” huge waves in zero visibility as she made for Bermuda.

““All day and night was like a boiling soup with zero visibility, sea smoke, haze and continuous snow,” said Capt Jurszo.

“What was very unusual was that after passing through the Gulf Stream last night, just 300 nautical miles from Bermuda, it was still snowing.”

The Oleander was forced to delay her departure from Port Elizabeth for a day in order to avoid the full force of Neptune.

She arrived in Hamilton at just before 9am yesterday and headed back to the east coast of the US later the same day.

The vessel is expected to return to Bermuda on her normal Monday morning slot next week.

Barry Brewer, president and CEO of the Neptune Group, which runs the Oleander praised the crew and their captain for their tireless work.

He said: “It’s interesting that when the shipping service works like clockwork, people can take it for granted. The work of the three ships and their crews works very well, but few understand the perils that they face at sea, especially in the winter.

“The route between Bermuda and the east coast of the US is one of the most difficult in the world.

“They have to encounter the Gulf Stream which can produce square waves depending on where the wind is coming from.

“When you get into the Gulf Stream, the waves become very short and very steep and that can be very, very uncomfortable and often be very dangerous.

“It can make for pretty ugly sailing conditions.

“It’s a very difficult job and we always put safety first when it comes to making a decision on when to sail.

“It can make for pretty ugly sailing conditions. It’s a very difficult job and we always put safety first when it comes to making a decision on when to sail. We owe the people that make this trip week after week a deep debt of gratitude for the work they do.”