Management at the Bermuda Electric Light Company breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after learning that the docks dispute has been resolved.

Belco is set to transport the heaviest single shipment that has ever landed on Bermuda's shores this weekend.

And there was a necessity for dock workers to be happily back on the job in order to move the shipment through the streets of Hamilton.

So massive is the operation that the Birdcage on Front Street is being removed to accommodate the large loads.

A special trailer has been imported to carry new generators to Belco's Cemetery Road plant. They weigh in at a colossal 1,000 tonnes.

In order to move this titanic load from the docks on Front Street to the rear entrance of Belco, the company has had to take extensive measures to ensure the operation goes smoothly.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt announced that the trailer will need a completely clear road and that no vehicle of any type should be parked along the route.

Mr. Sherratt stressed that even cycles must be removed.

No parking will be allowed on Front Street, Queen Street, left on Church Street West, Par-la-Ville Road North, Woodlands Road, and Cemetery Road on Monday evening.

"We're trying to minimise the inconvenience to the public, but we have to close off the roads progressively along the trailer's route,'' said Belco's communications manager Robin McPhee. "We're expecting to deliver the first shipment on Monday night after 8 p.m.'' The ship Project Orient is expected to dock at No.8 dock today at 8 a.m.

Unloading is expected to continue over the next three days.

The trailer was supplied by the Italian transportation and forwarding company Fagioli, which specialise in the equipment required to move massive loads.

Their projects have included shifting submarines and ships.

It will be controlled by Fagioli experts who will walk along side and steer the trailer using a hand-held remote control. The transportation project will take place between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"Each wheel has its own hydraulic system and this allows the trailer to `snake' round corners,'' said Ms McPhee. "It only moves at two miles an hour, and will take about three hours to get across town.'' The new generators are part of Belco's $42 million expansion project which began in January. The company is replacing its older, less efficient engines with new, modern generators.

"We need to expand the amount of electricity we supply to meet new demands into the next century. The new generators allow us to do this and to be more environmentally efficient,'' said Ms McPhee.

"Bermuda reaches a high of 95 to 100 megawatts of electricity a day in the summer months and the expansion will increase our capacity to allow the output of approximately 160 megawatts a day,'' she added.

"The demand for electricity is constantly increasing and the new plant is necessary to meet these demands.'' The generators feature reduced vibrations and noise levels. They also have lower emission levels.

In addition to Belco, several Government Departments are involved in this huge undertaking, including the Police Service, the Ministry of Transport, Marine & Ports Services, and the Corporation of Hamilton.

"It's extraordinary that all of these groups can get together and do something like this,'' Ms McPhee said. "It's a very exciting project and it will be spectacular event.'' It is understood the new plant will be operational by next spring.