The container ship Oleander continued the countdown to its 1,000th voyage to the Island last week, as it completed passge number 997.

The Bermudian-owned ship, purpose-built for the Bermuda run in the early 1990s by Bermuda Container Lines, will make its 100th voyage in the last week of August.

A Container Ship Management spokesman said the cargo ship arrived in local waters on Sunday. It was carrying 146 dry containers, 35 refrigerated containers, four cars, 12 trailers and a yacht.

The Oleander set sail yesterday morning, heading back to New Jersey.

The container ship Somers Isles arrived on Monday morning. It carried 80 containers, five refrigerated containers, five pleasure boats, one trailer, one truck body and 78 bundles of steel. The ship set sail yesterday afternoon.

And the Bermuda Islander is scheduled to arrive on the Island today. The ship is carrying 86 containers, 20 reefers, one trailer, and three 48-foot trailers. She will set sail on Friday morning.

In other shipping news, Celebrity Cruises' Zenith arrived in Bermuda from New York on Monday morning, docking in Hamilton. The ship brought 1,663 passengers to the Island and will shift to St. George's today before making its return trip to New York tomorrow.

The Norwegian Majesty arrived at Ordnance Island in St. George's yesterday morning. The ship brought 1,450 passengers and is scheduled to leave for Boston on Friday afternoon.

The Norwegian Crown sailed into Bermuda yesterday, docking at Penno's Wharf in St. George's. She has 1,202 passengers. She will shift to Hamilton before leaving the Island for New York on Friday.

Celebrity's Horizon arrived yesterday morning. The ship, which is berthed at King's Wharf in Dockyard, has 1,600 passengers. She is expected to shift to Hamilton this morning. She will leave for New York tomorrow.

Also Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Nordic Empress berthed at Penno's Wharf in St. George's arrived yesterday with 1,812 passengers. It will switch to Hamilton before making the return trip to New York on Friday.

Closing in: Oleander is close to reaching the 1,000th voyage milestone. The custom-built, Bermudian-owned ship should reach the mark at the end of this month.