Tug pilot Kenneth Todd was yesterday back in command of his vessel with a full crew on board.

A five-man crew signed onto the Faithful as part of a settlement of the year-long dispute which involved Mr. Todd and other grievances in the department.

Acting Marine and Ports director Mike Dolding said all sides were hopeful that the discord would now be at an end.

Faithful , which has been out of action for two-and-a-half months as several arbitration sessions between the Bermuda Industrial Union and Marine and Ports took place, should be back in action by tomorrow.

Mr. Dolding said he was confident that the new peace would last, but added it was reliant on both sides being prepared to meet each other halfway.

Yesterday brought to an end a dispute that has lasted over a year and came to a head with a two-day strike by Marine and Ports workers -- which ended with a threat of legal action.

Arbitration sessions failed to find a solution, until the final mediation meeting which thrashed out a binding settlement.

Mr. Todd had an enforced abscence during the dispute but returned to work, and was unable to operate his vessel without a full crew.

The entire disagreement dates back to the 1997 confrontation over the planned sinking of the seized Chinese freighter Xing Da .

GOVERNMENT GVT