was to blame for the Hamilton docks row involving the cruise ship Crystal Harmony .

Mr. Peniston rejected allegations he owed money to tour-boat operators Mr.

David Durham and Mr. Nigel Prescott.

And he appealed for an end to alleged attempts to sully his reputation.

Mr. Durham and Mr. Prescott had claimed Mr. Peniston's indebtedness explained his reluctance to hire their boats Longtail and Lady Tamara on Wednesday.

Instead Mr. Peniston, whose company is Crystal Harmony's agent, started using the ship's own tenders to off-load passengers at the dock next to the Ferry Terminal.

This prompted an enraged Mr. Durham to threaten to use Longtail to block Crystal Harmony's tenders.

Police boats patrolled the harbour as Marine and Ports hurriedly tried to diffuse the situation.

An agreement was finally reached to use the liner Meridian's tender, and Longtail .

Mr. Prescott, however, expressed anger at seeing Crystal Harmony tenders still transporting passengers, while his boat was idle.

Yesterday Mr. Peniston claimed he had settled his debts with Mr. Prescott over a month ago.

He also denied owing Mr. Durham any cash -- and accused him of being an "unreliable'' operator.

Mr. Peniston, a majority shareholder with Bermuda Travel Tours, claimed Mr.

Durham had left his passengers stranded on Cup Match, opting to take private charters instead of serving a cruise ship.

"This resulted in my principals in Florida agreeing to discontinue using him.'' Mr. Peniston stressed the harbourmaster at Marine and Ports had been told over a week before Crystal Harmony's arrival about his intended use of tenders.

"He was told the Crystal Harmony would be using one Government tender available, which would be supplemented with the ship's own private tenders running a steady shuttle service.'' Mr. Peniston said the proposed tender schedule had been given to the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors' Service Bureau, and Customs.

He went on to accuse Marine and Ports of failing to have "the guts'' to stand up to Mr. Durham, when he threatened to block Crystal Harmony's tenders.

"They should have reprimanded him or warned him his licence would be jeopardised.'' Mr. Peniston went on to defend his record as a businessman, stressing he had been one of eight shareholders of Bermuda Travel and Shipping, which went into liquidation.

He emphasised he had also been one of four shareholders in Bermuda Excursions, also in liquidation.

"It is wrong to describe them as my firms,'' he said.