US Navy sailors on board the salvage ship USS Grapple sail today after enjoying three days of rest and relaxation on the Island.

The 255-foot-long, 51-foot-wide Grapple is best known for salvaging flight equipment from aircraft crashes over the last 15 years.

Commissioned in 1986, the ship is the newest salvage vessel in the US Navy and can operate the Navy's deep sea remote operating vehicles (ROVs).

In August and September 1996, the ship participated in the salvage mission at the TWA Flight 800 crash site off Long Island, New York. It was the Grapple that retrieved the plane's black box.

Two years later, she was deployed off Nova Scotia to search for the remains of a Swissair flight.

In 1999 she was used to hunt for the remains of an Egyptair flight that was crashed off Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Grapple arrived in Hamilton at 9 a.m. on Monday and will sail out of Hamilton today for the USat 7 p.m. She is based in Little Creek, Virginia.

In other shipping news, the oil tanker Iver Experience docks today will discharge a large quantity of fuel at the Esso Oil docks. She is due to sail out of the Island later today.

Taganrog, also arrives tomorrow morning carrying a supply of diesel for Shell. The ship sets sail later tomorrow.

The Bermuda Islander is due to arrive tomorrow carrying 92 containers, 17 reefers, and 1 boat. She sails the same day at 4 p.m.

The Oleander arrived from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey on Sunday carrying 147 dry containers, and 42 refrigerated containers.

Miscellaneous cargo included 14 cars, 4 construction machines, 1 mafis and 7 flatbeds.

She sailed yesterday.