A sailboat that departed Bermuda bound for the Azores was forced to turn back to the Island last Wednesday after its mast malfunctioned while it was some 250 miles east-northeast of the Island.

Bermuda Radio reported that French-registered boat Albatros IV, which had two people on board, left the Island last week Monday before encountering mast problems and contacting Bermuda Radio in the morning.

There was no major damage to the 46-foot vessel's hull or its engine, which was sustained.

It also had reserve fuel measuring 600 litres and was able to motor back to Bermuda at a speed of around 5.5 knots (6 mph).

It arrived back in the Island on Friday at 10 a.m. after being in constant radio communication with Bermuda Radio, which was monitoring its status.

Meanwhile, container ship Oleander, one of the Island's lifelines, arrived in Bermuda on Sunday from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey on its weekly voyage.

Oleander brought with it 137 dry containers and 48 refrigerated ones. It also brought one mafi, seven road trailers and 24 cars.

She sailed from Bermuda on Sunday.

Its counterpart Bermuda Islander will arrive alongside the number seven dock on Front Street, Hamilton at 8.15 a.m. tomorrow when it arrives from Salem, New Jersey.

She will be carrying 141 containers, including 24 refrigerated ones, plus a CO2 Tank and four asphalt tanks for the resurfacing of the Runways at LF Wade International Airport.

Similarly, container line Somers Isles arrived in the Island yesterday morning at number seven dock in Hamilton, from Fernandina Beach, Florida.

She offloaded 184 containers including five refrigerated ones, three boats and two trucks. It is scheduled to sail out today.

Panamanian-registered Caribe Star delivered cement in Dockyard on Saturday after arriving from Barranquilla, Colombia.

It discharged 5650 metric tons of cement. It sailed out on Monday.

Vessel Kriti Champion, registered in Greece, diverted to Five Fathom Hole to drop off an injured crew member on Sunday.

She was bound for Brownsville, Texas after leaving Amsterdam, Holland.

Cruise ship Grandeur of the Seas pulled in to the Island from Baltimore at 12 p.m. on Monday with 2,414 passengers at King's Wharf in Dockyard.

She was scheduled to sail out at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Norwegian Majesty arrived in Bermuda on Monday at 2.30 p.m. at Ordnance Island in St. George's, bringing 1,442 passengers.

She will sail for Charleston South Carolina at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Norwegian Dream graced our shores when it arrived from Boston yesterday at 10.30 a.m. bringing 1,201 passengers to Pennos Wharf.

She will depart Bermuda at noon on Friday.

Norwegian Dawn will sail to Bermuda today at 9 a.m. arriving at King's Wharf in Dockyard with 2,447 passengers.

It left New York for the Island and will sail out at 5 p.m. on Friday.