An increase in the number of cruise ship passengers has put extra strain on the transport system.

Extra buses have been put on from the West End to cope with the demand when cruise ships are moored at Dockyard, making life difficult for locals who board the vehicles at stops past Boaz Island.

The situation was worse when schoolchildren were also trying to get on the buses, but it is still a concern to transport officials.

And this summer the Horizon has taken over from the Meridian at Dockyard, increasing the total possible number of passengers from 1,100 to 1,600.

The ferry system also comes under pressure at certain times of day, but those passengers who do not want to go to Hamilton by boat and don't wish to hire a scooter, look to the buses to get to the beaches.

Dan Simmons, assistant director of the Public Transportation Board, said there wasn't enough lift from Dockyard.

Extra buses had been put on to satisfy demand and supervisors were stationed in the West End to order more vehicles if numbers warranted it, he said.

"Most people want to go to the beaches and you can't get to the beaches via the ferry,'' he said. "If we have a very busy service from Dockyard, with people going to Hamilton or the beaches, then that means local people have a challenge getting on.'' Mr. Simmons said the problem only occurred with the buses travelling from the West End east. Passengers heading back to the Horizon tended to drift back in small numbers, not en masse, he said.

The Horizon visits each week from New York, staying at Dockyard between Tuesday and Thursday, when it switches to Hamilton.