Three wreaths were cast into the sea during a touching tribute to deceased mariners.

The ceremony – an annual event since the sinking of the Lloyd Bermuda in 1988 – took place last Thursday morning at Five Fathom Hole, St. George's.

The first wreath was on behalf of the Guild of Holy Compassion, which organises the service each year; the second was from pilots from the Marine and Ports Department; the third was on behalf of the men on the pilot gig Ocean Queen who lost their lives in the year 1927 off St. David's Head while making their way out to a ship. This year, Chad Townsell piloted the container ship Islander out to sea, where it was met by the pilot boat St. David. Derek Tully, secretary/treasurer of the Guild, told The Royal Gazette: "We could go out on our own but we make it a symbolic thing with a ship going alongside us."

The Guild of Holy Compassion is a Bermudian organisation started in 1918 by Dickie Tucker to look after the memories of dead sailors.