The Amstel Trader made record time to make it into Hamilton yesterday with fresh food and supplies.

But just as one potential crisis was averted, another one loomed on to the horizon with news that dockworkers in New Jersey had downed tools jeopardising next week’s shipping arrivals.

The Amstel Trader, which had taken over the Oleander’s schedule while she was in dry dock, had been severely delayed by the blizzards that dumped huge amounts of snow on the East Coast of the United States.

Barry Brewer, president and CEO of the Neptune Group, which runs the Oleander and Amstel Trader, told The Royal Gazette that the shipping firm would continue to monitor the weather and the industrial action.

“The Amstel Trader made record time to Bermuda arriving Thursday but just missing the daylight safe passage to Hamilton cut-off. She arrived in Hamilton early Friday morning and immediately commenced discharging,” Mr Brewer said.

“All perishable refrigerated containers have discharge priority to enable the earliest possible collection by truckers.”

The Oleander was due to take over her normal schedule from the Amstel Trader and arrive in Bermuda on Monday. But the labour dispute in the United States has now thrown the vessel’s schedule into question. Mr Brewer added: “Bermuda Container Line received notice on Friday morning that ILA labour in the port of New York has been withdrawn at this time.

“The issues for resolution remain undetermined. As New York is a critical US shipping hub we are hopeful that the issues will be addressed in very short order and that the Oleander can be loaded and sailed with minimal delay.”