A B757-200 on an ETOPS flight was forced to return to their departure airport when a center tank boost pump failed; thus jeopardizing their access to all the fuel in that tank. The Dispatcher/Reporter determined it was safer to land overweight than to burn off fuel to maximum landing weight.

Narrative

Maintenance Control called to advise a B757-200 flight crew had called them stating that the left center [tank] fuel boost pump was inoperative. A pertinent MEL states that if the flight cannot make it to the destination airport on wing tank fuel an underlying alternate must be listed. The flight was heading to Hawaii and no underlying alternate was available. The crew stated that they were not comfortable continuing on with only one fuel pump.I did the calculations and the flight was 18;000 LBS over maximum structural landing weight. All involved agreed that it was safer to land over weight than to circle and burn off the excess fuel. I reminded the flight crew to please note the descent rate and airspeed on landing. I was also contacted by the Chief Pilot whom I told that I had decided that an overweight landing was safer then burning the excess fuel. The flight landed safely but the crew did not send me the descent or airspeed numbers. The Chief Pilot then pulled the crew from the flight saying they were stressed.