In a first for the Island, the tugboat Faithful has been piloted by a Bermudian on its voyage to get assessed in the United States.

The trip, captained by first class branch pilot Nicholas Maynard, is part of a continuing training programme at the Department of Marine and Ports to have Bermudians take the helm.

“When Capt Nick was in charge, not only did we have a Bermudian who was qualified there for the first time, he also discovered numerous flaws in the process that we were able to correct,” said Lieutenant Commander Richard Russell, director of marine and ports.

Lt Cdr Russell said he had faced some resistance having a Bermudian take charge of the tug, but that Mr Maynard captained the Faithful at his insistence.

“He has met the international requirements and is the only Bermudian qualified to do that particular crossing.”

He added that the Bermudianisation of the department is the vision of Shawn Crockwell, the transport minister, and Francis Richardson, his permamnent secretary.

All the vessels owned by the department have to be certified after an out-of-water survey at least once every five years, Pilot Maynard explained.

“The problem is that we used to do this in Bermuda with a slip in St George’s that had the capacity to take the tug out of the water — the slip in Dockyard isn’t able to,” he said. “We don’t have that slip any more. The only way now is to take the tug overseas, in this case to Jacksonville, Florida.”

Pilot Maynard took the Faithful across in April and brought her back this week. It took about four days to make the crossing.

The tug had a Bermudian captain when it was first delivered to the Island, but has been taken overseas by foreign delivery crews ever since, making the trip a milestone for Bermuda.

“One stipulation by law is that it has to be done in good weather,” said Pilot Maynard, although the vessel was light and the Faithful was facing into the waves.

“Coming back across was lovely. We had ten to 15-knot winds at the most. It was a nice, smooth ride back home.”