George's on Christmas Eve to discharge a sick crew member.

USNS Prevail , a "Stalwart'' class ocean surveillance ship, arrived at Penno's Wharf on Saturday, Meyer Agencies reported.

The chief engineer, whose ailment was not serious, remained in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital yesterday. The 224-foot ship, which was bound from Spain, sailed on Tuesday for Norfolk, Virginia.

Strong Cajun , the container ship serving the US Naval Air Station, was also in on Christmas Eve. She discharged 12 containers at Marginal Wharf and sailed on Christmas Day, Meyer said.

Meyer also reported that the motor vessel Humbergracht , which arrived at Penno's Wharf last Thursday for engine repairs, remained there today after she ran into further troubles.

The Dutch-flagged ship, which was bound for Canada from Europe with general cargo, tried to sail on Monday but returned to port on Tuesday and is awaiting parts for further repairs.

The Panamanian-flagged motor vessel Luck , bound for Spain from Baltimore, came into Dockyard for lubricants last Thursday and sailed on Friday, Meyer said.

The tanker Gonio , a Maltese-flagged ship carrying soya bean oil and vegetable oil to Cyprus from New Orleans, was expected into Dockyard today for extensive engine repairs, Meyer said.

The Norwegian car ship Sea Pride arrived from Santo Domingo on Christmas Day and anchored at Murray's Anchorage before coming to Hamilton on Boxing Day, agents John S. Darrell & Co. Ltd. reported. She discharged 93 cars and 89 cases of parts before sailing for Nassau on Monday.

The container ships Bermuda Islander and Somers Isles spent Christmas in the United States, Meyer reported. Bermuda Islander is next due in Hamilton on January 3 and is to sail the same day, while Somers Isles arrives on Sunday and next sails for Florida on January 5.

The Oleander , the largest container ship serving Bermuda, is next due in Hamilton on New Year's Day and is expected to sail for Port Elizabeth, New Jersey on January 2 or 3, Container Ship Management reported.

Despite poor weather, Bermuda Container Line reported that about 1,200 people boarded the Oleander in Hamilton last Thursday for 15th anniversary celebrations. They saw boats and European cars on display, as well as life boat drills.

Mr. Geoffrey Frith, president of BCL's manager CSM, said in 1995 the companies would continue its longstanding search for alternative port facilities.

Labour costs in Port Elizabeth made it "undoubtedly the most expensive port to operate out of on the East Coast of the United States,'' and "one of the most expensive ports in the world,'' Mr. Frith said.

Also, Port Elizabeth was "a very large facility designed to handle huge volumes of cargo,'' and CSM was looking for a smaller, "more personalised'' approach.

While several sites in the New Jersey area were under active consideration, "we have yet to find one where the advantages outweigh the drawbacks,'' Mr.

Frith said.

LUCK ARRIVES -- The Panamanian-flagged motor vessel Luck arrived at Dockyard last Thursday to take on 60 barrels of lube oil from Shell.