Multiple port strikes, all French terminals on strike, Germany's Port of Hamburg on strike, U.S.-Canada strike planned

All French ports on strike

All major French ports, especially the container hubs Le Havre and Marseille-Fos, are threatened with a month-long strike in the near future, which is expected to cause serious operational chaos and disruption.

On June 7, the first 24-hour strike broke out. At the port of Le Havre, ro-ro, bulk carriers and container terminals were blocked by dock workers, resulting in the cancellation of four ship calls and the delay of another 18 ships.

At the same time, in Marseille-Fos, about 600 dock workers and other port workers blocked the main entrance for trucks to the container terminal.

In addition, the French ports of Dunkirk, Rouen, Bordeaux and Nantes Saint-Nazaire were also affected. In Rouen, three ships and two barges were delayed.

The union plans to continue the strike action in the coming weeks.

Workers at the Port of Hamburg in Germany go on strike

According to foreign media reports, port workers at the Port of Hamburg, Germany, went on strike on June 7 local time. During this period, port operations are expected to be interrupted. About 6,000 employees at the Port of Hamburg are affected by collective bargaining.

Freight forwarders shipping to Germany recently should pay attention to the impact of logistics delays.

Kuehne + Nagel issued a warning on its official website: Strike at the Port of Hamburg

Potential strike in the US

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) has suspended talks with the United States Maritime Union (USMX) in the automation dispute. Negotiations with the United States Maritime Union (USMX), which were scheduled to begin on June 11, have been suspended. The decision stems from the ongoing negotiations for local agreements under the Coast-Wide Master Contract, which expires on September 30, 2024. Workers are expected to strike as early as October.

ILA President Harold Daggett has warned that union members will not continue to work after the current contract expires and hinted at a strike as early as October.

With time running out before the current contract expires, the threat of a work stoppage is imminent, and if this possible future becomes a reality, the impact will be immediate, and some US retailers are said to be considering contingencies.

Potential strike in Canada

A potential strike at the Canadian border could threaten the logistics supply chain. A strike by Canadian border workers originally scheduled for Friday was suspended to allow more time for mediation.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said the mediation will last until next Wednesday, and the decision was announced before the original strike deadline.

Nevertheless, the potential threat of a strike could have an impact on multiple industries, especially those that rely on just-in-time supply chains and the flow of goods.

Last year, strikes at ports on the west coast of Canada caused serious disruptions to port operations. PSAC emphasized that the dispute between workers and the government mainly involves issues such as wages, remote work, retirement benefits and workplace protections.

Antwerp Port Emergency

Although the terminal remains operational, vessel traffic has been diverted and operations at Kieldrecht Lock, the world's largest ship lock, have been suspended to prevent the spread of the oil.

The spill affected the port's Deurganck Dock, container operations and Kieldrecht Lock, as well as about 20 vessels, including inland and ocean-going vessels.

Upon receiving the report of the spill, the port immediately suspended operations in the area and launched investigation and recovery efforts; using drones to take photos of the extent of the spill while cleaning the oil from vessels and waterways.

Although the terminal remains operational, vessel traffic has been diverted and operations at Kieldrecht Lock, the world's largest ship lock, have been suspended to prevent the spread of the oil.

The spill affected the port's Deurganck Dock, container operations and Kieldrecht Lock, as well as about 20 vessels, including inland and ocean-going vessels.

Upon receiving the report of the spill, the port immediately suspended operations in the area and launched investigation and recovery efforts; using drones to take photos of the extent of the spill while cleaning the oil from vessels and waterways. Investigations showed that some ships were "covered with oil", and port officials said that ships would not be allowed to leave unless they were thoroughly cleaned.

Antwerp Port is the second busiest port in Europe, and its Deurganck terminal is one of the largest container terminals in Europe. This incident has undoubtedly had a certain impact on its operations.

According to ShipView data, as of 10:45 local time on June 8, there were 25 container ships berthing, 18 anchored, and 9 expected to arrive at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, including several container ships operated by Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and CMA CGM.

The cleanup caused by the accident is expected to last for several days, and some ships will face delays as a result.