Spanish box terminals face cargo backlog after general strike

Spain’s container terminals are beginning the task of recovering following yesterday’s general strike across the country that left box ships waiting at anchor after a slew of terminal closures – but the extent of the cargo backlog remains unclear.

Container movements ground to a halt at Algeciras, loading and discharge was suspended at Valencia, and cargo operations requiring the support of dockers stopped at Barcelona, although essential marine services remained unaffected.

Trade union confederation CCOO’s maritime-sector representative in Valencia for vessel operations, Francisco Martínez, told reporters: “There are no workers available, and there are no vessel operations.”

And while one forwarder told The Loadstar the strikes had “zero” impact on their operations, AIS tracking data showed the 1,072 teu Contship Zen still at anchor off Valencia last night, with an expectation of berthing this morning.

This story was originally published by The Loadstar. Read the full story at The Loadstar →