Building boss Stephen Moniz has hit out at chronic dock inefficiencies for which he blames the management of Stevedoring Services.

The part owner of Island Construction said he had paperwork for 105 containers but antiquated machinery was delaying their recovery.

One of his truckers queued from 7.30 a.m yesterday but finally left at 11 a.m yesterday. ?Today we have done six containers in five hours.

?The level of service is p**s poor. The management at Stevedoring Services could not organise an explosion at a gas station. They have machines older than some of the exhibits at the Maritime Museum.?

Two machines had broken down yesterday, said a frustrated Mr. Moniz, who added the workers on the dock were performing miracles in very trying circumstances. He said if the Corporation of Hamilton hadn?t recently placed a limit of 750 containers at the dock the number would be into four figures. ?The workers deserve all the credit in the world, everyone deserves a gold medal.?

But he said management refused to listen about updating machinery to drop the containers on the trucks and now importers were being charged for leaving them on the dock when it was not their fault. ?As soon as importers refuse to pay the charges ? when it hits their pockets is when they realise there is a problem and not until.?

Normally seven container lifts were in operation but he said yesterday the dock was down to four or five and he said incoming boats got the majority of machinery instead of an even split between trucks and ships. Stevedoring Services boss Henry Hayward said some people had agendas although he could not say what Mr. Moniz?s might be. He said: ?I am happy with the way we manage.? Two machines had broken down yesterday morning but they were up and running by the afternoon said Mr. Hayward who denied it was time to replace the equipment.