Importers were yesterday asked to pick up their cargo to help prevent congestion at Hamilton docks.

Warren Jones, the CEO of port operators Polaris Holdings, said that the latest stay at home order had meant a build-up of containers on the quayside.

Mr Jones added: “Due to the recent Covid-19 regulations and businesses being closed, there was a significant drop in the number of containers being removed from the port.

“As a result, port congestion will be an issue if immediate relief is not provided by cargo importers.

“On a normal day, approximately 75 containers leave the port. During last week and presently, we are seeing half that number.

“If the volume does not increase, space will be an issue, particularly next week as we deal with the three ships scheduled to arrive.”

Mr Jones said Stevedoring Services which runs the docks, was staffed at normal levels and the movement of cargo for collection was not a problem.

He added there had been an increase in collection today, but the company wanted to prevent a build-up of containers to avoid running out of space.

Mr Jones said: “It’s always about rotation. There’s a flow in and a flow out, but there just hasn’t been a flow out.

“Because some businesses were closed, they simply haven’t pushed to get their things off the dock.”