Labor action forces Maersk to divert ships from Rotterdam

   Maersk Line has advised that a labor action in Rotterdam is causing it to divert ships to Amsterdam.
   The carrier said that due to current collective labor agreement negotiations for a new facility of APM Terminals in Rotterdam, “the current facility of APM Terminals in Rotterdam has been confronted with unannounced work stoppages. At this moment, we don’t know how long these work interruptions will last. Maersk Line is not a party in this dispute, but unfortunately our service is impacted by this current situation.”
   Maersk said the Maersk Carolina from its TA2 service and Maersk Penang from its TA4 service are being diverted to the PSA terminal in Antwerp with estimated times of arrival of October 22 and October 24, respectively.
   The action in Rotterdam grows out of negotiations related to the new automated terminal APM Terminals is developing in the port. The so-called Maasvlakte 2 terminal will be able to handle 2.7 million TEU annually and is expected to be completed next year. The terminal is expected to open in November.
   Frank Tazelaar, managing director of APM Terminals Maasvlakte 2 project, said negotiations for a new collective labor agreement for the new automated terminal in Rotterdam have been going on since June.
   “We have received an ultimatum from the unions earlier this week, which we are currently studying,” he said, noting that stoppages are occurring at APM Terminal’s existing terminal in Rotterdam, leading to lower productivity.
   Sjaak Poppe, press officer for the Port of Rotterdam, said other terminals are not being affected.