Arbitration to bring a final solution to the long-running Marine and Ports dispute has concluded.

By next week a decision will be announced that will determine the future working colleagues of tug pilot Kenneth Todd, the man at the centre of the row.

This week's session ended after two days of meetings between Marine and Ports officials and Bermuda Industrial Union.

Marine and Ports director Ron Ross said every outstanding issue was aired during the meeting and he was hopeful that a satisfactory solution could be reached.

In the meantime, Mr. Todd is at work but cannot operate his vessel, the Faithful , because there is no crew.

BIU president Derrick Burgess said: "I think the session went very well. I am sure it will be resolved one way or another as soon as possible.'' The arbitration -- which was the third such session designed to resolve a disagreement which has rumbled on for over a year -- will be binding on both parties. The previous sessions -- which included a face-to-face meeting with all staff at Dockyard -- took place following a two-day stoppage by 90 Marine and Ports staff, in protest at the return to work of Kenneth Todd after a year-long absence.

Staff returned to work after a threat of legal action and both sides have been trying to bring the dispute to a conclusion ever since.

Originally the disagreement centred on Mr. Todd's role in the sinking of the Xing Da , when an ugly confrontation ensued over the final resting place of the freighter.

Fishermen feared the ship could harm the reefs but the vessel was eventually sank as a dive site.

One of the arbitration sessions resolved that a new five-man crew would be assigned to the Faithful and the original crew -- who had grievances with Mr.

Todd -- would be found work elsewhere.

But although the BIU agreed, enough volunteers could not be found.