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Maersk makes contingency plans due to Spain’s port strike

[ March 3, 2017   //   ]

Due to the port strike in Spain, Maersk Line says in a letter to customers that it plans to reroute vessels to minimize disruption of its cargo flows.
Spanish port worker strikes are escalating throughout Spain as a consequence of government plans to reform the Spanish Ports Act, which will change its existing port labor system to be in accordance with EU regulations. Opposition to the regulations was presented before the Spanish Parliament on Feb. 24. The Spanish government, however, refuses to become involved with the port labor negotiations.
The strikes are expected to last nine days.
“These actions will cause a serious impact on cargo flows in and out of Spain and more widely to our global network, especially due to the strategic importance of the port of Algeciras as a major transshipment port for cargo moving to/out of Europe, Africa and many other destinations,” Maersk writes.
Maersk is engaged in a hub-partnership program with APM Terminals at Algeciras, and is that terminal’s largest customer. Consequently, westbound vessels on its Asia-Europe and Middle East services that normally call Algeciras will be diverted to other facilities in the Mediterranean where capacity has been secured and transshipment connections will be made there for cargo destined for Africa, Mediterranean, North Europe and Latin America, based on Maersk’s 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.
“We have also made special arrangements for Spanish import cargo taking into consideration various options available in the contexts of a port slowdown in Spain and consequent strike,” Maersk says..

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