The Hindu Business Line : Strike continues in Vizag port

THE strike by the Dock Labour Board workers at the Visakhapatnam port, which began on Sunday, is continuing even on Thursday. The attempts to find a solution have made no headway so far.

According to a press note issued by the port trust, five vessels at berth were affected and eight vessels, which required the dock labour were waiting. However, the loading of iron ore by a mechanical system and discharge/pumping of liquid bulk cargoes were going on normally.

It is learnt from the trade sources that some of the vessels were being diverted to Paradip and other ports in the vicinity.

The workers went on strike in protest against the employment of private labour on the two berths — East Quay eight and nine — developed a private operator (a joint venture of Gammon India Ltd and Portia Management Services of the UK) on BOT basis.

The port clarified that "though the Visakhapatnam Port Trust and the Visakhapatnam Dock Labour Board do not have a role to play in the present dispute, we are acting as facilitators in the larger interests of the trade and the port.''

Mr V.V. Rama Rao, Union Leader, said the strike would continue as there was no positive response from the BOT operator to the main demand that the DLB labour should be employed on the two berths and no private labour should be brought in.

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