AN eight-day strike that brought operations to a standstill at India's largest container terminal, Gateway Terminals India (GTI) in Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), has come to an end, reported the UK's Container Management.
But Hong Kong's Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) said that all cargo shipped for discharge at JNPT will attract an emergency surcharge of $150 per TEU and $300 per FEU, starting August 15.
CMA CGM has also chosen to implement the same surcharge from August 15, citing increased operational costs from the terminal shutdown, which it described as a "force majeure".
Striking rubber-tyre gantry (RTG) crane operators resumed their shifts and vessels are expected to be back on schedule soon.
An agreement was reached between the RTG operators' union, local leaders and GTI management at a meeting, chaired by the JN Port chairman.
Outsourced RTG operators, who wanted a direct contract with the terminal operator, APM Terminals, initially went on hunger strike at the end of July before they brought operations to a halt last week.
Ruby Jadhav, assistant manager of commercial operations at GTI, also known as APM Terminals Mumbai, told CM: "The demand for direct employment has been dropped and any concerns of the RTG operators will be addressed through mutual dialogue and discussions. The RTG operations will remain under contract."
The strike, which also resulted in congestion at the port's other container terminals, was called "illegal" by the regional labour commissioner in a letter to the operators' union, citing that a valid collective bargaining agreement was in place.
During the strike, approach roads to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPCT) and Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) became congested, affecting the movement of import/export containers between the port and container freight stations.
Several vessels, meant for GTI, were diverted to the above terminals while others had to seek alternative ports to berth at.
Some shipments have had to be discharged at Colombo and arranged onto third party feeders, while another ship chose to call at Pipavav first, further north on India's west coast.
In the fiscal year of 2014/15, JN Port handled 4.46 million TEU, with APMT Mumbai contributing 2.01 million TEU. APMT Mumbai is a joint venture between APM Terminals (APMT) and state-owned rail operator Container Corporation of India.
PORTS
13 August 2015 - 21:00
Mumbai RTG drivers end strike, but OOCL, CMA CGM pile on surcharges
AN eight-day strike that brought operations to a standstill at India's largest container terminal, Gateway Terminals India (GTI) in Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), has come to an end, reported the UK's Container Management.
PORTS
13 August 2015 - 21:00
Mumbai RTG drivers end strike, but OOCL, CMA CGM pile on surcharges
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