The Hindu Business Line : Kochi trailer crew strike called off

The 8-day old strike by the trailer crew at the Kochi port was called off on Monday evening on condition that the issues related with the strike will be discussed on Thursday.

The trade unions have withdrawn the strike with immediate effect following conciliatory talks convened by the Deputy Regional Labour Commissioner with the unions in the presence of senior port officials, sources in the trailer owners association said.

The strike had totally affected the movement of containers to and from the Kochi port during the last 8 days.

Earlier, owing to the uncertainty prevailing at the port, Sentinel Tea and Exports Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Harrison and Malayalam Ltd has approached the State Bank of India for a concurrence letter to divert its tea consignment meant for exports to Pakistan and Sri Lanka through the Tuticorin port.

Sources in the port said that the company had sought the permission to export two consignments of tea comprising 56 tonnes to Pakistan and 26 tonnes to Sri Lanka through Tuticorin instead of Kochi for the time being.

The three consignments had to be shipped from Kochi in the last week, but were got delayed on account of the trailer crew strike. The company has moved all the consignments to Tuticorin from the stuffing centre in Coimbatore.

The diversion of cargo will incur an additional cost in the form of transportation, appointment of customs house agents etc, which would ultimately result in the reduction of margins, the sources added.

Likewise three 40 feet reefer containers comprising marine foods have been diverted to the New Mangalore on Sunday from Kochi.

Sources in the seafood industry said that the industry had incurred a loss of nearly Rs 40 crore in March, which is considered to be peak season for marine exports. Most of the exporters had to meet so many commitments as part of the year-end contracts.

Moreover, the seafood exporters based in Kollam area had diverted their cargo to Tuticorin to meet their trade commitments and delivery schedule.

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