Delays at the docks are because owners are not picking up their merchandise, causing congestion, according to the chairman of Stevedoring Services.

Henry Hayward said that owners are not picking up their cargo from the docks ? causing no more storage space which limits containers from being emptied.

He said that number seven and eight sheds, which are used to house cargo until collected, are ?completely full?.

Mr. Hayward added that containers are stripped (emptied) in sequence and said: ?We can?t strip anymore containers until the cargo that is presently in the shed is picked up by the consignees (owners).?

Mr. Hayward said that many containers are on their way to Bermuda in the coming days and stressed the importance of consignees coming to collect their cargo.

He added that Stevedoring Services and individual freight lines have been contacting the owners and telling them to come pick up their stuff.

An importer complained to yesterdaythat he has been waiting for two weeks for his two shipments to come off the docks, saying: There is a holdup. ?Delay?s are a normal part of importation but this is particularly bad.?

The Corporation of Hamilton are complaining that the docks are not big enough but they are not stripping the containers fast enough, the importer added. He told the paper that he has lost sales due to the delay.