Maersk issues contingency plan in Spain

Stevedores’ unions in Spain have been protesting against a proposed law to reform the Spanish Ports Act, and have issued strikes between March 6 and March 25.    Labor disputes have escalated at ports across Spain during the past few weeks, fueled by the government’s plans to reform the Spanish Ports Act and change the existing labor system at ports in accordance with European Union regulations.
   Consequently, this has caused discontent with the stevedores’ unions opting for several industrial actions against the prosed law, which were presented to the Parliament on Feb. 24.
   Stevedores’ unions have announced strikes during odd hours on certain days between March 6 and March 25, Maersk Line said. Strikes are scheduled for March 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17 20, 22 and 24.
   “Reduced terminal productivity can already be experienced in Spanish ports and the situation is expected to continue,” Maersk said. “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,” the carrier added.
   Maersk’s especially strong presence at the Port of Algeciras is illustrated by BlueWater Reporting’s Port Dashboard tool. Of the 42 container shipping services calling the port, Maersk provides vessels on 20 of these loops, five of which are 2M Alliance services; and is a slot purchaser on two further loops calling the port. In addition, Maersk’s intra-European short-sea specialist, Seago, is a vessel provider on two additional loops calling the port.
   Maersk has unveiled its contingency plan, which is based on the reduced presence in Algeciras during this period and the use of alternative ports in Europe and the Mediterranean.
   Maersk said its customers may experience vessel rerouting, port omissions and additional transshipment of their cargo.
   “Westbound vessels on our Asia-Europe and Middle East services normally calling 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 our existing network and additional capacity deployed during the contingency,” Maersk said. “Eastbound vessels will for the time being continue to call Algeciras and eastbound transshipment 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.
   “Should your cargo be directly impacted by any of the mentioned changes, you will continue to receive relevant information and personalized communication providing all the details of the revised transport plan, including any changes to ETD or ETA of your cargo through the standard Maersk Line process for contingencies notification,” the carrier added.
   In addition, Maersk said that proposed contingency plans may be subject to change due to urgent or unforeseen circumstances.