yesterday for what could have erupted into a nasty scene on Hamilton docks.

Both Mr. David Durham and Mr. Nigel Prescott charged that Mr. Peniston owed them large sums of money. And they said the beleaguered shipping agent was reluctant to hire their boats Longtail and Lady Tamara for that reason.

Taking the matter into his own hands yesterday morning, an angry Mr. Durham threatened to use the Longtail to block tenders from the cruise liner Crystal Harmony from off-loading passengers at the dock next to the Ferry Terminal.

Shortly before 9 a.m. he tied up at Albouy's Point, blocking the view from the Omega Gold Cup spectator tent -- to lie in wait.

A tense scene followed with Police boats patrolling the harbour and officers standing watch on the dock.

But Marine and Ports managed to diffuse the situation at the last minute and the ship's passengers were able to safely get ashore for shopping and sightseeing.

"It was not a very nice situation down there,'' Marine and Ports director Mr.

Ron Ross said. "We took what action we could to diffuse it so there was no major conflict on the docks. Our main concern was for the passengers.'' Meyer Agencies president the Wor.

Henry Hayward was also angered over the situation.

He said the shore excursions his agency had been hired to organise had been disrupted. And employees were left waiting on the dock for passengers a long time without knowing what was going on.

Mr. Durham claimed Mr. Peniston, whose company is Crystal Harmony's agent, had falsely told Marine and Ports that no privately-owned tour boats were available for tendering that day.

Based on that information, the ship's captain attempted to use his own tenders to get passengers ashore.

Both Longtail and Mr. Prescott's boat had been available, Mr. Durham pointed out. And he was not going to let Mr. Peniston get away with telling the captain otherwise.

He claimed he and Mr. Prescott were owed money for serving Cunard's QE2 this summer.

Mr. Ross said dock officials had known the Longtail was available for tender yesterday morning. But when this was pointed out to Mr. Peniston, "he had different views''.

Repeated attempts to reach Mr. Peniston yesterday were unsuccessful. Mr. Ross said it was normal that if a Government tender was available, cruise ships had to use it before hiring privately-owned boats.

However, only one Government tender was available yesterday because the second one was serving the Meridian at Dockyard.

Mr. Ross said he was able to borrow Meridian's tender and an agreement was worked out between Mr. Durham and the captain of Crystal Harmony to use Longtail .

But Mr. Prescott said he was still angered to see at least two of the liner's tenders transporting passengers while his boat was sitting idle. He said he had not been approached by Mr. Peniston to serve the ship.

It is understood Mr. Peniston complained bitterly to Marine and Ports about Mr. Durham working directly with the captain instead of through him.

Over the past 12 months two of Mr. Peniston's firms, Bermuda Travel and Shipping and Bermuda Excursions -- which owned the Longtail -- have gone bust with combined debts of around $2 million.

Another of his firms, Bermuda Vacations, stopped operating leaving him with just Bermuda Travel Tours which acts as the agent for Cunard and Crystal cruise lines.

Mr Peniston is also used by Meridian to organise its shore excursions, even though the ships's agent is Meyer.

TENSE MOMENT -- Marine Police stand by as the Government tender Canima motors towards Hamilton docks carrying cruise passengers off the Crystal Harmony .

The tender, which usually serves the Meridian , stepped in just in time to halt a protest over the ship using its own tenders to transport passengers.