Industrial Union on the weekend over fears for their safety at sea.

The crew, members of an international ships' crew union of which the BIU is an agent, believed it was not safe for the ship to sail.

"They were uneasy about the ship's seaworthiness after having suffered a major cargo shift,'' BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons said yesterday.

The 400-foot Merchant suffered the cargo shift in bad weather south of the Island and began listing about 13 degrees to the port side.

She is carrying more than 800,000 gallons of frozen Florida orange juice. Mr.

Simmons said he met last Friday with the crew and after a telephone conference with the ship's management company, Columbia, a representative was flown in from Cyprus. Two British surveyors, from insurance companies for the ship and its cargo, were also brought in.

"We had a full meeting at which all concerns were raised and the union took the position that it did not agree the ship should sail unless it was completely safe and certified safe by a competent authority,'' Mr. Simmons said.

The ship's local agent Meyer Agencies was yesterday awaiting the surveyors' official certificate.

Agent Capt. John Moore said steps had been taken to stabilise the ship and he expected her to set sail late yesterday or today.

Mr. Simmons said a "band-aid job'' had been done on the ship, with gravel, air bags and water used to stabilise her.

However, after talking with the surveyors, he was satisfied it would be safe to sail.

As for the crew, he said: "They are not particularly happy about it, but they are satisfied they are safe.'' The vessel has been docked alongside Penno's Wharf in St. George's since last weekend.

The Bahamian-registered vessel was on her way from Florida to Europe. When she leaves, she will return to Florida where her cargo will be re-stowed.

The ship has three holds, each with three decks, and cargo has shifted in each compartment. To make matters worse, the valuable juice must stay refrigerated.