CANADIAN PORT STRIKE

Just as a work stoppage plagued Montreal last week, specifically the MSC Viau and Maisonneuve terminals, with over two dozen vessels facing an impact depending on the length of the current work stoppage, British Columbia ports are facing work stoppage today as well.

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said in a statement it had received a 72-hour notice of a strike from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union 514, representing about 730 longshore foremen throughout the province. In response, the BCMEA said it would “take defensive action in the form of a coastwide lockout” of Local 514 members.

Weekend talks to avert a strike have not been scheduled.

A coastwide lockout or strike would also shut down DP World’s Fairview container terminal in Prince Rupert and the GCT Deltaport and Vanterm terminals in Vancouver, effectively shuttering 5 million TEUs of terminal capacity along North America’s West Coast.

A lockout or strike at Vancouver and Prince Rupert, could put more pressure on the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, which have been digging out from higher-than-anticipated volumes from cargo diversions linked to the brief longshore strike along the US East and Gulf coasts.

At the current moment, it is unclear as to where talks stand. Government intervention is also unknown at this time.

To discuss your cargo or solutions on particular lanes, please contact your South East World Wide (Chicago), Ltd. Sales Representative.