Number Seven Shed needs to be removed in the next year to ensure the smooth operation of the docks, according to Bermuda Container Lines Ltd., the owner of MV which provides weekly freight service to Bermuda.

BCL's call comes at a time when dock congestion has actually eased significantly over the serious crowding seen a year ago.

While this is due mostly to the Corporation of Hamilton's removal of number eight shed, and other steps that have been implemented, president and CEO of BCL Geoffrey Frith said that it was also helped by the fact that there has been no growth in cargo volume this year.

?A year ago we were nearly at gridlock down there,? he said.

?This is the first year in quite awhile that there hasn't been cargo growth and if it does start going back up again there will be some problems down there.?

Mr. Frith said that his company's call for the removal of the other crate stripping shed is in line with recommendations from the Corporation's own consultants.

In reports dating back to 1991, consultants have noted that, based on the growth of cargo volume into Bermuda, that the LCL (less than container load) operation will have to be removed off the dock to free up space for additional container operations and cargo volumes. These have risen some 70 percent since 1991.

Mr. Frith said that the removal of both sheds combined with the implementation of new work practices by various parties such as Stevedoring Services would mean that the cargo docks located where they are can ?can work well and take significant further growth?.

?If you plan and put in new systems and new ways of handling containers - Stevedoring Services have put a lot of effort in and they had their own consultants and made a number of changes - then yes, it can and will work, but it needs planning and all the various parties need to be involved in that.?

While there has been plenty of discussion about relocating the cargo docks to locations away from Front Street, Mr. Frith said that, operationally, BCL is happy with the current location.

?I'm not commenting on other political considerations and what not, but from a pure operational perspective it is the best location on the Island,? he said.