A new ship with the same name is to take over the Somers Isles Shipping Ltd (SISL) route between Florida and Bermuda.

An SISL spokesman said the new Somers Isles would see the firm through its 30th anniversary and beyond.

He added that the former Somers Isles had been returned to its owners after seven years plying its trade between Bermuda and the US,

The spokesman said: “The new Somers Isles is of a slightly smaller size than the previous ship but it is less than two years old and fully capable of meeting the present and future cargo demands of SISL.”

And he added that the new ship was more fuel-efficient and lower exhaust emissions, which reflected the firm’s commitment to minimise the environmental impact of its operations.

The new ship has been chartered for an initial two-year period, with an option to renew and will make 35 voyages a year between Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Hamilton.