Bermuda Sloop Foundation and the National Museum of Bermuda have each received donations of $12,500 from a shipping company.

The funding is intended to help support the Island’s maritime community and was given by Bermuda International Shipping Ltd (BISL), owner of the Bermuda Islander, to mark 25 years of weekly cargo service from New Jersey to Bermuda.

Denise Riviere, chief executive of Bermuda Sloop Foundation, said: “On behalf of Bermuda’s youth, I would like to thank BISL for their gracious donation.

“It is with support like yours that we are able to continue our education and character development voyages as a rite of passage for middle school students.”

Dr Edward Harris, executive director of the National Museum of Bermuda, said the organisation was “very grateful”.

He added: “The National Museum is proud to have been a partner with Bermuda International Shipping over its lifetime. We trust that we can continue to sail together for many more years to come.”

Over the past 25 years, the Bermuda Islander has completed more than 1,275 round trips and carried 140,000 containers.