Defending the docks

September 9, 2003

Dear Sir,

I would like to respond to the comments made yesterday on the radio about Stevedoring Services.as well as complaints that have been made today. Here are some points in no particular order.

1) It is alleged that Stevedoring Services is not willing to spend money to deliver the service level that the public wants.

Please note that the company's rates are controlled by the Corporation of Hamilton and the Department of Marine and Ports. Even with such restrictions the company has committed to the purchase of two new cranes for the port at a cost in excess of $2.4 million. They are due to arrive next month. These cranes will have automatic container spreader bars for handling containers. (A container spreader bar is the device that is used to lock into the top of a container so that it can be discharged or loaded on a ship.)

2) The men will not unload ships in the rain.

This is true, the men currently have to operate and guide a container spreader bar that weighs about two tons into position. There is grease on the top of most containers, add water to this and it creates unsafe working conditions. It is not worth putting people's lives at risk. If people would look at the actual impact of not working in the rain they will find that it is very infrequent that any ship has been delayed due to rain. If anybody has read the Health and Safety Act they will understand the company's position.

3) Most ports use gantry cranes.

Recently Puerto Rico experienced a hurricane. Their ports were put out of action because the hurricane blew the cranes over. Only one port had a crane similar to ours which did not blow over. It took them a few days to get this crane operational. The other ports were out of operation for at least a month. Stevedoring Services has two cranes which are to be replaced as stated above. One of these cranes was out of service having a new engine installed. It was found on Thursday that this engine, while new, had a problem. The other crane was functioning. The company also had rented a small crane to help load the empty containers.

On Sunday morning the company had men in to sort out the inevitable mess that a hurricane produces, e.g. containers blow all over the place, some were upside down, a few had almost blown onto Front Street. While this work was progressing the crane caught on fire, probably due to salt from the hurricane causing a short which in turn ignited some oil or grease. This crane was then out of service. Due to the impending arrival of the container ship, Oleander, later that day, the mechanics attempted to address the problem with the new engine. After a short while they realised that this was not going to be easily resolved the turned their attention to the crane that had caught fire. The job they did borders on heroic: By mid-day Monday they had the crane running. In light of what has happened elsewhere we are in reasonable shape.

At some point on the radio someone had said the company was cheap. During all of this the company has arranged the rental of another crane for two weeks at the cost of $44,000. At present this crane has just arrived on the docks and will be assembled tonight. Obviously the company will not be in the black for the month of September as a result.

4) The company has been trying to hire two qualified heavy equipment mechanics.

There is nobody locally who might be qualified who is interested. There seems to be shortage world wide. The company has brought in mechanics from overseas for short periods at great expense from other companies. This is not easy. Immigration has been quite good about this but the lead time to do this can be long so a backlog of machinery with problems only grows greater. Make no mistake about it, the company would prefer to hire a qualified local but now is seeking people overseas as a last resort.

5) The cargo in the sheds will be affected since the doors on both shed have severe damage.

Unloading these containers will be slow. Therefore the company is attempting to handle containers that have emergency items in them. Those full containers that are to be delivered `over the road' will be the easiest although the salt has taken its toll on the container handling machinery as well.

6) One of a company's top management was complaining about the company not planning ahead etc.

Nobody can predict hurricanes, not even his; if this was true then his company would have had an adequate supply of tarpaulins to cover every damaged roof on the island as well as a large enough supply of batteries etc.

7) The company's computers in the cargo sheds and wireless network were a write-off. This will impact deliveries until replacements can be flown in.

8) Plans are being made to open the company for extended hours to deliver full containers to ensure that the island will be well served in the national emergency.

Under the circumstances the company has done reasonably well and with some cooperation and realistic expectations from the consignees on the island the service level should improve over the next week or so.

BRUCE LINES

Stevedoring Services Ltd.

Thinking of Bermuda

September 7, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am so sorry to see what devastation Bermuda has just suffered! I have just read the articles in your Sunday Royal Gazette online about Hurricane Fabian and seen the photos of the awful damage done to one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I am deeply saddened to know that the wonderful people of Bermuda have had to suffer such horrible insults from Mother Nature. I have been to your lovely country several times and my parents used to go to Bermuda frequently in their youth. We know what a paradise your island is and how well you treat us American visitors. I have been to many of the gorgeous Caribbean Islands and I know personally why Bermuda still ranks at the top of the list of vacation destinations.

Please accept the love and support from so many of us Americans who have enjoyed Bermuda's countless pleasures and beauty in the past and look forward to returning soon to experience her charms again.

We know that rebuilding will take time and money and much devotion, but we also know what spirit the Bermudans have and how much love and pride they share for their unique home. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Our sympathy goes to all those who lost loved ones to the storm's fury. I know that Bermuda will fully recover and shine once again, and I look forward to seeing the restored Bermuda soon.

May God be with you all.

PENNY MAROLDO

West Oberlin, Ohio

Shocked by the damage

September 6, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was in Bermuda a couple of weeks ago on holiday, visiting my brother and his family who live in Hamilton Parish, and am shocked by the damage you have suffered today. My family and I send all Bermudians and expatriates best wishes for cleaning up the mess.

MARGARET EVANS AND FAMILY

Stafford, UK

Test drivers more often

September 2, 2003

Dear Sir,

Regarding your headline on Tuesday September 2, 2003: "Drivers need improved training".

I couldn't agree more, and this simply backs up my comments in my letter that appeared the following day (which, I might add, was written before the article appeared!).

I've said this for years, and I say it again now: the average Bermudian driver is not fit to drive a nail through a block of wood. Anybody who doesn't believe that only has to look at the roadside walls or fences, and see how frequently they get scraped or knocked down.

Here's a suggestion that would probably cause a log-jam at TCD, but may be worth considering: every time someone's driving licence is up for renewal, he or she should have to re-sit driving tests for whatever class of licence they want renewed. THAT should separate the sheep from the goats!

DAVIE KERR

St. George's