The Hindu Business Line : Flash strike hits container movement at Kochi

Kochi, Sept. 23 Movement of containers to and from the Kochi Port came to a standstill since Monday night following a flash strike by private container trailer workers after clashes with the CISF personnel.

Some container trailer workers were beaten up by the CISF on the issue of parking of trailers before the terminal. The workers in retaliation also attacked the CISF personnel.

However, the port management had not taken any initiative to resolve the issue as their stand was that the workers should withdraw the strike first before any discussions are held. The meeting convened by the Co-ordination Committee of Trailer Workers demanded that the issue should be settled at the level of District Collector. They also decided to go ahead with the strike unless action is taken against the erring CISF personnel.

It is pointed out that around 250-300 export containers for onward shipment are waiting outside the terminal. Many of the seafood exporters feel that the strike will affect the export of seafood as there would be a delay of shipments for the ensuing Christmas and New Year season. Some of them are even thinking of diverting the cargo through neighbouring ports, sources said.

Sources pointed out that the container terminal has been coming back to normal in the recent period after managing to clear all the backlog of long-standing import containers from the container yard.

With the result of the present strike situation, they fear that the terminal is likely to experience another congestion and piling up of cargo that may result in vessels turnaround time and berthing delays.

Meanwhile, the Terminal Operator informed the trade in the normal berth meeting today that only two container vessels will be allowed to berth at a time in view of the situation even though the operator has the facilities for handling three container vessels at a time.

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