A protest is planned outside the Cabinet Building on Tuesday by North Shore residents in Devonshire who do not want the `By the Sea' property converted into a container ship port.

Works & Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons recently told The Royal Gazette that studies had looked at moving the docks from Hamilton to the property near the Tynes Bay Incinerator. But no decisions had been made, and the recent demolition of a building on the site did not mean that any development was imminent, Mr. Gibbons said.

But area resident Mr. Anthony Young, 35, believes plans for a north shore container ship port are already in the works.

Last week, he saw workers taking samples which he believed were intended to show how much dredging would be required in the waters around `By the Sea'.

Mr. Young is concerned about increasing industrialisation along the north shore, citing recent construction of the Tynes Bay Incinerator and the new Watlington Water Works plant. He feels the increasing industrialisation and the fact the area is mainly populated by blacks are related.

A container ship port would further devalue properties in the area of north Devonshire, by creating more noise and traffic, he said.

It would also be an "eyesore'' that would be one of the first sights for passengers on cruise ships approaching the Island on the way to Hamilton.

Mr. Young, who conducts moped tours for visitors, is calling on anyone concerned about the prospect of a container ship port at `By the Sea' to gather in front of the Cabinet Building at 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday. He is also circulating a petition against the idea.

Mr. Young said he sees no reason why the container ship port could not be moved to Marginal Wharf at the recently-closed US Naval Air Station, where a facility already exists. Air freight already arrives at the Airport, and Customs would be able to consolidate its operations there, he said.

`By the Sea' was the former site of the ZFB TV studios.