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The Dockyard superintendent "laid down the ground rules as to what we expect'' to workers who refused to man a Government tug boat on Wednesday, Marine and Ports director Mr. Ron Ross told The Royal Gazette .

A crew balked at taking out the 28-year-old Forceful after two tugs were requested to help bring in the 499-foot Russian bulk carrier Vasiliy Musinskiy from Murray's Anchorage for fuel, sources said.

With the tug Faithful out of service for safety inspections, Marine and Ports officials wanted Forceful to leave her Dockyard berth to back up the tug Powerful .

The crew refused, reportedly citing safety concerns. But the issue was not brought to an immediate head, since it was soon decided the weather was too rough to bring in the ship, even with two tug boats.

Faithful and Powerful are only five to six years old. But one must come out of service for one month each winter for safety surveys related to the Lloyd's Shipping Register.

The US Navy tug Palatka , which had been available as a back-up, has returned to Norfolk, Virginia in preparation for the closure of the US Naval Air Station at St. David's.

Now, Marine and Ports wants to call on Forceful when one of the two newer tugs is out of service.

"We have been bringing it up to a reasonable standard,'' Mr. Ross said of Forceful . "We're gradually working our way through it with a view to keeping it a few more years.'' Some electrical work was being finished on Forceful yesterday, and it was expected to be completed some time today, Mr. Ross said.

It was expected an attempt would be made to bring the Vasiliy Musinskiy into St. George's for bunkers today. It was not known whether one or two tugs would be needed, and Mr. Ross was not sure if Forceful would be ready.

But he believed the crew now understood that the smaller and older tug was to be manned when needed.

UNPOPULAR TUG -- A crew balked this week when asked to man the 28-year-old tug boat Forceful to help bring in a ship. Marine and Ports says the tug is seaworthy and wants it available as a back-up.