Transportation Minister Ewart Brown yesterday awarded two Marine and Ports staff for outstanding service.

Osdel Simmons, senior ferry pilot, and Alvin Pitcher, seaman, each received a certificate of outstanding service and an $80 dinner certificate for two at M.R. Onions.

Dr. Brown said: "They are the kind of people who will be taking the ferry service in to the next century.

"We have exciting plans in the ferry business over the next year or two and it is our intention to prepare for that time by commending and pointing out the special talents of our people who work here.

"Both of these gentlemen have done outstanding work and they are but a part of the team of people, some of whom are not here at the moment, but who have done outstanding work in the Ministry of Transport. We would like to commend you both for your outstanding work.

Mike Dolding, Acting director of Marine and Ports, said some of the members not present were nominated for a special award.

He said they averted a possible nasty situation some six weeks ago when a 14-year-old school girl was taking the ferry. They noticed that a suspicious character also got on the ferry.

As they reached the Belmont ferry stop, it was already dark. The staff did not realise until a little later that the girl was left stranded because her father got the arrival hours mixed up.

They saw the suspicious character exit the ferry at the same time as the girl.

They pulled away from dock, but felt that something was not right.

After discussing the problem, they decided to return and stay with the girl until her father arrived for her.

They said after the father had picked up his daughter, the suspicious person came back to Hamilton on the ferry.

Mr. Dolding said the grateful parents thanked Marine and Ports in a letter.

"As far as I'm concerned, the crew used good judgment,'' he said, "by staying there, it was good judgment.

"We think they may have averted an incident.

"We thought it was important to give them some sort of acknowledgement for their deed.

"We thought that there was a real threat there. We have noticed an increase in the number of unsavoury characters hanging around terminals at night. We have needed to have security there every night. We have female staff at the terminal and we want to ensure our employees safety.''