ships left the Island for the US.

The Argosy and the Somers Isles departed in the afternoon after dockworkers completed unloading the vessels.

The work was completed despite an unofficial overtime block by workers at Hamilton Docks for the third day in a row.

At present Stevedoring Services are investigating legal and disciplinary avenues to restore normal overtime working by their staff.

Labour Minister Maxwell Burgess was unable to shed any more light on the situation last night but did disclose that he was hopeful of meeting with both sides today.

On Monday, Stevedoring Services workers stopped work at 4.30 p.m. and on Sunday, management had to tie up the ships when they arrived because the workers refused to come in for overtime shifts.