Hamilton docks operator Stevedoring Services is without a president and chief executive officer after Bruce Lines resigned from the post this week.

Both Mr. Lines and company chairman Henry Hayward yesterday declined to comment on the reasons behind the sudden departure.

Mr. Hayward did confirm that the post had been vacant since Tuesday. A replacement for Mr. Lines, who had been vocal in months past on the devastating impact of strikes on Island businesses, had not yet been named. Mr. Hayward said the company would be advertising for a new general manager.

Two new Stevedoring cranes were installed on the docks under Mr. Lines' stewardship. The cranes, which boasted video monitors on their booms, came into operation last month. The installation of the cranes was said to have followed the company looking at what critical equipment it might buy to "change the way full containers are delivered to the container trucks".

In a January interview, Mr. Lines predicted there could be changes to the way the docks were run in years to come. He said the company might have to move the stripping of containers to a bonded warehouse away from the main docks because of limited space.

That decision would rest with the Corporation of Hamilton, he said. But he predicted that were it to happen ? giving a timeline of between six months and three years ? could possibly lead to some job cuts.

At the time, the comments created a furore with union boss Derrick Burgess ? Stevedoring has 61 unionised workers ? saying Mr. Lines should be discussing possible cuts with the Bermuda Industrial Union before making it public.

Worries over jobs were, at that time, played down by Mr. Hayward, who said in a report at the beginning of February, the possibility of significant redundancies were "years down the line". He added that Mr. Lines comments had been taken "out of context".