crewman, despite high seas.

The Bahamian-flagged motor tanker Valez Blanco , which was in ballast en route from Freeport to England, diverted to Five Fathom Hole to get medical help for the first engineer.

He dislocated his ankle when a metal plate on the ship shifted in high seas.

Pilot Mr. Eddie Welch of Marine and Ports, physician Dr. Henry Subair, and Meyer ships agent Mr. Joe Simas took the pilot boat St. George to Five Fathom Hole, where they climbed 63 feet up a rope ladder to board the ship in high seas. A crane was used to lower the crew member.

The last batch of Christmas trees arrived on the Hamilton docks this week as the Island faced a shortage.

The Bermuda Islander brought one container of trees when she arrived on Tuesday from Salem, New Jersey. She discharged 92 other containers, including ten refrigerated ones.

She sailed yesterday, Meyer Agencies reported.

The Oleander , which will be open to the public next Thursday, arrived on Sunday and discharged 181 containers, including 47 refrigerated ones. She also carried building materials, a truck, and three cars.

The Cyprus-flagged lube oil tanker Carib arrived at the Esso dock on Sunday from Kingston, Jamaica, Meyer reported. She discharged lube oil and sailed on Monday for Georgetown, Guyana.

Strong Cajun , the container ship serving the US Naval Air Station, arrived at Marginal Wharf from the Azores yesterday. She picked up 27 containers and was due to return to Norfolk, Virginia yesterday.

USS Grapple , A "Safeguard'' class salvage ship, arrived at Penno's Wharf on Monday on an operational plant propulsion and engineering inspection.

The inspections are carried out about every 18 months. They are normally carried out at sea, but Grapple pulled in to Bermuda because of bad weather.

The 255-foot ship, commissioned in 1986, was due to sail last night for her home port of Little Creek, Virginia.

The ports will be especially quiet over Christmas. The Oleander will not sail on December 23 and next sails on December 30. The Somers Isles is due to arrive on Sunday and sail for Florida the same day, not returning to Bermuda until January 1.

Bermuda Islander is due in on December 20 to discharge containers. She will sail by December 22 and not return to Bermuda until January 1 or 2.