Maersk Line advises a contingency plan due to disruption in Spanish ports
Over the past weeks, labour disputes have escalated in Spanish ports as a consequence of announced government plans to reform the Spanish Ports Act and change the existing labour system in ports in accordance with European Union regulations. This has caused discontent with the stevedores’ unions, who opted for several industrial actions against the proposed law, which was presented to the Parliament (Congreso) on February 24th, Maersk Line said in its press release.
Stevedores’ unions have announced a strike during odd hours every second day between March 6th and 25th (i.e. strike carried out on 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 22th and 24th March – 9 days in total). Furthermore, slow-downs (reduced terminal productivity) have commenced in all Spanish ports on February 24th and are expected to continue until the strike starts.
These actions will cause a serious impact on cargo flows in and out of Spain and more widely to Maersk Line global network, especially due to the strategic importance of the port of Algeciras as a major transhipment port for cargo moving to/out of Europe, Africa and many other destinations.
With this in mind, Maersk Line advises a contingency plan. The plan is based on the reduced presence in Algeciras during this period and use of alternative ports in Europe and Mediterranean.
Westbound vessels on Maersk Line Asia-Europe and Middle East services normally calling Algeciras will be diverted to other facilities in the Mediterranean where capacity has been secured and transhipment connections will be made there for cargo destined for Africa, Mediterranean, North Europe and Latin America, based on Maersk Line existing network and additional capacity deployed during the contingency. Eastbound vessels will for the time being continue to call Algeciras and eastbound transhipment connections will be made there.
