Bermuda could be on the hook for a bill after a gravel ship was delayed from arriving in to the East End this week.

However, the total cost of the tab is not yet clear.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Transport and Regulatory Affairs said yesterday that the island has an obligation to provide required tug services for international shipping.

She added: “Failing that, charges may be passed on to the Government.”

The comments come after the Seattle, loaded with materials for the Bermuda Government, was forced to sit at Murray's Anchorage for nearly two days after arriving on Sunday.

Joe Simas, vice-president of marine operations at shipping firm Meyer Group, said this week that the delay was not due to a problem with the vessel but, instead, to a mechanical problem with one of the two tugboats needed to guide the ship into Penno's Wharf.

The spokeswoman confirmed that a mechanical problem with one of the two tugs was to blame.

She added: “Repairs were carried out by our Dockyard maintenance department.”

The spokeswoman added that the total cost of repairs to date “have not been calculated”.

Asked about what the delay might cost the Government, she said that the total cost of the ship's visit “is not known until billing is processed through the ship's agent”.

Mr Simas said yesterday that the ship had arrived at the St George's port on Tuesday morning, about 48 hours later than expected.

He said that unloading of the ship was scheduled to wrap up some time today and that the vessel would depart either later today or early tomorrow.

The spokeswoman said that Marine and Ports were not provided with the destination of the ship's load.