A pilot forced by striking boatmen to remain on a container vessel which sailed from the south-east to Rotterdam on Saturday returned to Ireland yesterday.
Mr Pat Heffernan, who helped the ship's captain to guide the Vanguard to the sea at Dunmore East, was due to go ashore on a pilot boat.
However, this vessel was occupied by striking members of SIPTU, who refused to hand over the pilot boat to the port chairman.
The boatmen wanted to hand over to the port's chief executive or the harbour master, both of whom were unavailable.
Recounting details of the incident yesterday, port chairman Cllr Ben Gavin (FF) said Mr Heffernan, who flew into Cork Airport yesterday, "didn't have a toothbrush or a passport with him".
"We had to make arrangements through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in The Hague, who were very helpful."
Mr Gavin said he expected talks to proceed at the Labour Relations Commission on Thursday.
"We would ask the boatmen to come to the table willing to find solutions. Their pay is being increased, and we are simply asking them to attend for the hours they are rostered and paid for, rather than be on standby at home or wherever."
An interlocutory injunction was granted to the Port of Waterford on Saturday evening against four named individuals.
The injunction prevents the boatmen from interfering further with the pilot boat, and Mr Gavin claims this will allow the business of the port to continue unhindered.
The port chairman has also promised to pursue costs incurred by the port in a claim against the union and personnel involved.
"Business is going on. There have been over 100 vessel movements in the last two weeks, and there haven't been any delays to our customers."
SIPTU branch official Mr Davy Lane said his members had occupied the boat, and would have handed it back to the management of the Port of Waterford, but they were not available.