Gridlock could freeze Hamilton docks this holiday after Customs introduced more detailed tariffs and procedures, a merchant fears.

The changes have reportedly been extremely time consuming. And some believe they will prove expensive.

Bill Boyle, who runs W.J. Boyles, said the "time cost'' would translate into higher retail prices since some merchants would have to hire extra help to clear goods.

"The cost is that a lot of these people come do it for you -- $25,000 a year -- to hire someone. The forms require a huge amount of time for retailers and wholesalers.'' Mr. Boyle said he felt lucky because his store imported shoes and the categories were fairly simple -- but electronics and food tariff forms were much more complex.

He noted further costs could be incurred if the backlog forced foreign manufacturers to hold merchandise because they would charge storage fees.

The only way around a gridlock, Mr. Boyle said, was to pay deposit on the goods to get it off the docks.

Tariffs were still applied but the process allowed merchants to get their merchandise off the docks.

"A small retailer doesn't have the money to have a firm to do this for them.'' he added.

But Collector of Customs William LeDrew said: "I don't think the problem is that bad with the learning curve for the new tariff.'' He insisted when the tariff forms were introduced there was sufficient help, training and assistance.

"They could have started in August.'' Mr. LeDrew said the forms and procedures were available for trial in August.

"The new tariff forms are available on CD-ROM, on our website and a hard copy can be obtained from us.''' "Yes, from start to finish, the process is taking longer. I don't put this down entirely to the learning curve but that's a major part of it.'' Customs is introducing new procedures to allow merchants to use a shorter form that will take less time to fill out.

"In the next few days we're going to increase the limit from $500 to $2,000.

For commercial shipments over $500, they have to fill out the declaration. The short form has fewer details.'' And assistance was still available via the Customs Help desk in Hamilton, said Mr. LeDrew.

He said the current jam with clearance forms was the combination of two short holiday weeks prior to the change and the learning curve.

"We are working very hard to clear shipments fairly quickly with people working overtime.'' An experienced customs clearance agent for H.A. and E. Smith's said Bermuda was catching up with the rest of the world.

The agent, who has ten years' experience with Customs, said foreign manufacturers she dealt with were always amazed at how slack Bermuda's methods were.

She said there were problems but they could be worked through without adversely affecting the holiday season.

The senior agent said she had been on the seminar Customs offered and worked with the new system for a little while. She insisted that experienced Customs clearance agents could catch on quickly enough but novice agents were likely to run into trouble.

"They're (Customs) not going to step-by-step you through this. They are not the experts and as far as this new system is concerned, they're new as well.''