Normal service has resumed on Hamilton docks after the end of an overtime dispute.

And it is anticipated that a backlog of imports that had built up during the trouble will be cleared quickly, after workers lifted an unofficial overtime ban.

Yesterday Stevedoring Services president Michael Lohan said two container ships had left Bermuda on time and that overtime was now being worked by the 60 strong workforce.

He said there was no overtime done over the weekend as the men had already refused on Friday to carry out extra duties -- before the settlement was reached between the company and the port workers division of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

But he added they were moving swiftly to strip containers already on the docks and release cargo.

BIU president Derrick Burgess confirmed that work had resumed as normal on the docks.

The dispute -- which centred on payments for call-outs out of normal hours -- disrupted imports to the extent that Bermuda Container Line was forced to charter an extra vessel to ensure goods reached their customers on time.

Stevedoring Services workers had argued that a call-out punctuated by a meal break should activate another call-out payment -- at a minimum of $80 a session on top of the original call-out fee.

But management insisted there was just one call-out minimum payment and refused to bow to workers' pressure. Initially a union overtime ban was enforced but this was lifted after an injunction was taken out by Stevedoring Services.

Thereafter, workers imposed their own unofficial overtime ban by refusing to work extra hours when requested by management.

It is understood that part of the agreement reached on Friday states that workers will do overtime as requested by management and all overtime will be carried out by BIU members.

In addition, those members who are unable to work will be replaced by other members of the BIU port workers division or agency shop.