Inchcape Shipping Services announced that vessels must depart from Port of Newcastle and Port of Kembla in Australia prior to the Svitzer port towage personnel's strike.
Inchcape states that all vessels requiring tugboat assistance must be fully prepared by 11 AM on November 17th to coordinate departures on Thursday and Friday mornings.
Svitzer will not be towing vessels in and out of the 17 Australian ports it operates in.
"In accordance with the current recommendations, as of Friday, November 18th, at noon, it is likely that there will be no harbor tugs available for any purpose at Kenmare Port," Inchcape stated.
Due to the anticipated lack of tugboats to handle any emergencies, vessels have been ordered to evacuate from Port of Newcastle.
Inchcape states, "Due to the required rapid turnaround and limited/uncertain tug availability, this port will restrict vessel entry this week, as per the current recommendations."
Switzer's shutdown is currently under review by the Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC), which has the authority to terminate or suspend protected industrial action, including on grounds of significant damage to the Australian economy. The commission's hearing is scheduled to continue on November 17.
On November 14, Svitzer Australia announced that it has issued notices of stoppage to all harbor tugboat employees covered under its 2016 remuneration agreement, including members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE), and the Australian Marine Officers Union (AMOU).
Svitzer indicated that the blockade will commence at 1200 AM on November 18th and will continue indefinitely.
The company asserts, "This undermines Swiss' ability to reliably and safely provide services to our shipping clients and ports across the nation, and severely disrupts the global supply chains of countries reliant on shipping."
Since 2019, the company has been negotiating contracts with the union, receiving over 1,100 notifications of industrial action since October 2020, stated Switzer.
Dr. Nicolaj Noes of Svitzer Australia stated, "We had hoped we would never have to stop, but now we have no choice but to respond to the destructive industrial action being taken by the union."
MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin called Suez's standstill "supply chain disruption."
Krumlin, also the president of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), said, "The workers at Sitzer continue to show up, work hard, contributing not only to the substantial profits of this successful company but also saving lives and protecting Australia's coastline in the brave rescue of the damaged cargo ship."
MUA Assistant Minister Jamie Newlyn stated, "The representatives of Switzer have repeatedly attended negotiations with sudden and unreasonable demands, knowing full well that these demands would disrupt the negotiation process and undermine the prospects of reaching a consensus outcome."
