The lives of those lost at sea were remembered in a ceremony off the coast of the island.

The Guild of the Holy Compassion held its annual ceremony last weekend on board the pilot boat St David, casting wreaths into the waters of Five Fathom Hole.

Among those on board were the descendants of Edgar Smith, who lost his life when his pilot gig hit bad weather off Kitchen Shoals in 1929.

The Ocean Queen 11 was on its way to meet with an incoming freighter when the boat was capsized. Their bodies were never recovered.

Others remembered were crew of the cargo ship Lloyd Bermuda, which capsized in heavy seas between New Jersey and Bermuda in December 1988.

Memorials to the men of the Lloyd Bermuda and Ocean Queen 11 are located at the Seamen’s Plot in St George’s Cemetery. The St David was joined by both the replica pilot rowing gig Harry Fox and the cargo ship Somers Isle for the ceremony, led by the Reverend Tom Slawson.

Derek Tully, secretary of the Guild of the Holy Compassion, said: “This was a very historical event. Along with the St George’s families we had representatives from all the shipping companies with us as well as former senior pilot Harold Millett.

“It was an excellent representation of Bermuda’s rich maritime history.”