its first scheduled visitor of the year has been forced to cancel.

John S. Darrell spokeswoman Marie MacPherson reported yesterday that the Black Watch had suffered engine problems and would not be kicking Bermuda's cruise ship season off as scheduled on March 27.

The Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd. vessel was due to visit the Island while en route from St. Thomas to the Azores.

A second trip was scheduled for November -- the last cruise of the season -- but it is not known whether this visit will also be cancelled.

The news follows an announcement that the Dreamward would be cutting its season to sail between New York City and Montreal in September and October.

In other shipping news, the naval presence on the Island diminished with the departure of four US Navy minesweepers which arrived on Monday and refuelled at Dockyard.

The USS Blackhawk , Devastator , Scout , and Avenger , each measuring 225 feet, were joined offshore by the USS Inchon , an Iwojima-class assault helicopter carrier, and departed.

The HMCS Winnipeg -- a 440-foot, 3922-ton Halifax class frigate - also sailed yesterday after berthing at Ordnance Island in St. George.

It visited Bermuda while en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Plymouth, England.

And the HMCS Cormorant departed following a month of research dives on the Bermuda platform and the Challenger and Argus Banks.

The 245-foot research support vessel headed back to Halifax where it is set to be de-commissioned.

However naval vessels representing Canada and the Netherlands are due to arrive today and tomorrow.

The non-nuclear Royal Netherlands Navy submarine HNLMS Dolfijin is expected to arrive today in Hamilton with 12 officers and 50 crew on board.

It is scheduled to depart on March 24 along with the Canadian Forces vessel HMCS Terra Nova which is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

The Improved Restigouche Class Frigate and its 21 officers and 188 crew will enjoy some rest and relaxation while the ship is here for bunkers.

Also tomorrow, the car ship Ganta is due to arrive from Port au Prince with about 200 cars and spare parts for the Island. It is scheduled to depart that afternoon for Nassau.

And last Friday the luxury Bahamian flagged yacht Tommy stopped in the Island briefly to refuel while on its way from Miami to the Azores, said Meyer Agencies Ltd. spokesman Stephen Paynter.

Meanwhile Bermuda's regular visitors continued to provide their service of delivering supplies for the Island.

Container Ship Management vice president Robert Lewis said the Oleander arrived on Monday at 8 a.m. with cargo including 139 dry containers and 31 refrigerated containers.

Three 40-foot maafis, one 45-foot trailer, 12 cars and a Caterpillar tractor were also off loaded from the vessel before she departed for Port Elizabeth, New Jersey on Tuesday.

The Bermuda Islander arrived on Monday morning carrying 87 containers including 14 refrigerated boxes and sailed the next day.

And the Somers Isles arrived from Fernandina Beach, Florida on Tuesday with 69 containers and 7 refers.

She also off loaded loose cargo including seven pleasure boats and a couple of sailboats set to be used during Race Week and an assortment of lumber and steel.

The vessel is due to leave today after loading all her empty containers which have accumulated on the docks over the last two weeks.

The freighter was late last week after suffering engine damage at sea which had to be repaired and it did not have time to load on any empties before heading back to Florida in an attempt to catch up to its schedule.

Mr. Paynter said it should be back on schedule next week.

RESTING NAVY -- Four US Navy minesweepers visited Bermuda this week to refuel and were photographed berthed bow to stern alongside the dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard on Tuesday. The USS Blackhawk , Devastator , Scout , and Avenger left yesterday.