A workers strike at Fremantle Port starting at 5:30am on Sunday morning, and it has been announced the port’s harbour master will not be providing vessel traffic service over the course of the industrial action.
The strike is set to end on Tuesday, August 20 at 5:30am – however the Australian Maritime Officers Union’s Glenn Walsh has failed to rule out an extended strike prior to the action commencing.
Pilot boat operators and vessel traffic service officers are downing tools for 48 hours in the midst of a long-standing pay dispute between the union and the Fremantle Port Authority.
Fremantle Port says the harbour master’s office will still be issuing direction to smaller vessels.
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“Directions to vessels will be issued by the Harbour Master’s office under the WA Port Authorities Act – Sections 103, 104 and 105.
“Communications with vessels shall be maintained by Fremantle Harbour Master’s Office via VHF channels 16 /12 or (08) 9431 6333. Vessels requiring to contact Fremantle Port Authority including during emergencies, may do so via VHF channels 16 /12 using the call sign ‘Fremantle Harbour Master’s Office’.
The Container Alliance released a statement prior to the strike stating only ship movements were likely to be impacted by the strike.
“Vessel cargo operations and port logistics operations will not be impacted by this protected industrial action. Vessels at berth within the port will continue their scheduled cargo operations during this period, however ship movements to and from berths may be impacted,” the Container Alliance says.
“This industrial action comes at a time also when Western Australian importers and exporters are experiencing changing container shipping patterns and capacity allocations by international shipping lines servicing Fremantle, higher ocean freight rates and surcharges, and cargo congestion delays in the major transshipment port of Singapore.
“It is hoped that the parties to the Fremantle Ports’ industrial dispute are able to continue good-faith negotiations to reach an enterprise agreement solution without the need for further protected industrial action.”
At the time of writing seven vessels are scheduled for departure from the port before the end of the current strike period, including general cargo, vehicles carrier and bulk carrier ships.
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