The Bermuda Turtle Project and the crew of a visiting vessel combined efforts to help protect the island’s coastal beauty at Somerset Long Bay.

The BTP joined representatives of Virgin Voyages for a beach clean-up on September 7 during the inaugural voyage of the company’s ship, Brilliant Lady, to the island from New York.

Known for its boutique hotel-at-sea design, Brilliant Lady paired the excitement of her milestone voyage with the serenity of Bermuda’s turquoise waters, setting the stage for a meaningful collaboration to protect the island’s coastal beauty, a spokeswoman for the turtle project said.

The ship’s 24 crew members, who hailed from across the world, met and worked alongside Gaëlle Roth, a BTP co-director, Trevor Rawson, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Trunk Island conservation manager, and Andrew Rawson, a project sound solution leader at Somerset Long Bay, to clear away trash including plastic and glass from the beach.

The area was once a haven for turtles and sits close to the Brilliant Lady’s port at Heritage Wharf.

The team also learnt more about the conservation efforts across the island.

Dr Roth said: “It was great to work with an enthusiastic team committed to tackling anthropogenic pollution, aiming to restore balance to Bermuda’s nature.

“The marine and terrestrial habitats are closely intertwined and safeguarding these ecosystems is needed for healthy fauna and flora.

“Successful conservation requires everyone’s active participation and benefits us all and future generations.

“The crew was shocked to see the amount of small plastics washed up with each wave and the presence of so many glass bottles on the beach.”

Sarah Dwyer, a sustainability programme manager at Virgin Voyages, said: “Virgin Voyages strives to be the ship communities love to see in port, and one of the most meaningful ways we create positive change alongside the local community is through our Crew Impact Squad, a volunteer programme dedicated to giving back.”

She said the collaboration underscores the company’s commitment to ocean conservation and noted that the organisation is proud to partner with a like-minded local group to protect and preserve Bermuda’s marine and coastal environment.

She added: “The island’s rich culture, scenic environment and natural beauty created a memorable experience for our crew and sailors, who had the opportunity to explore all that makes this island destination so unique.”

For the ship’s inaugural call into Bermuda, the brand selected the BTP as its mission to conserve sea turtles through research and education aligns with Virgin Voyages’ purpose.

Each August, BTP hosts a two-week in-water course where scientists, students and conservationists from across the western Atlantic and Caribbean gather for hands-on fieldwork to build regional capacity.

The BTP also works closely with the wildlife rehabilitation team at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo to treat sick and injured turtles.