Maersk skips call at Rotterdam as labour issues bring delay

Labour unrest at the port of Rotterdam has exposed long-standing issues and diminishing hopes of a resolution to backlogs and congestion in the near term.

Maersk told customers yesterday it would be omitting a call at the Hutchinson Port Delta II terminal on Monday, because of “unplanned strike action” at the facility.

Workers represented by the FNV Havens and CNV unions have been locked in dispute with the Chinese terminal operator since the second half of last year over port automation concerns.

The latest strike action began on Sunday and ended yesterday, and reports claim Hutchison has been forced to close the terminal gates due to overcrowding.

Contract negotiations began in November but hit a wall, with further strikes threatened until agreement is reached, and while Maersk told customers it would “continue to monitor the situation,” hopes of a quick resolution are fading.