Update on port strikes in Greece
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Since January 7th dockers at Greek ports have been on strike and abstention from overtime work opposing a port privatization bill. Beginning June privatization went through and management of the port container terminal at Piraeus has been decided for procurement to a COSCO subsidiary, qualifier to the relevant tender. Time that COSCO will take over is unknown, speculation is that they will take charge before the end of the year and possibly next October.
Procurement of the Thessaloniki port container terminal will be decided in July. Strikes are continuing with port congestion and extremely low throughput of vessels and containers. Shippers and receivers have been suffering delays of several weeks, this is expected to continue until resolution.
Whilst Greek ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki are on strike, alternative private port of Astakos, hundreds of km away from urban areas of Athens/Piraeus/Thessaloniki where vast majority of shippers/receivers are located, has been activated. Additionally, small ports of Volos, Lavrio and Skaramangas accommodate at times some feeder-ships. Shipping lines have adapted their schedules which however are published under reservation.
Since a month, all shipping lines are charging port congestion surcharges differing among them.
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MSC ocean ships call ports of Astakos, Piraeus and Thessaloniki depending on circumstances at the time
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CMA-CGM feederships call either Astakos or Piraeus or Skaramangas or Thessaloniki, or Lavrio or Volos depending on their liner service and schedule adjustments/changes are continuous.
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COSCO ocean ships call either Piraeus or Astakos or Skaramangas or Thessaloniki, actual port of discharge is not notified.
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ZIM and CSCL ocean ships call either Piraeus or Thessaloniki (not both in the same trip)
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HLCL feederships call both Astakos and Thessalomiki but are also slotting containers on MSC vessels.
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Other shipping lines either call whatever Greek port available, or discharge Greece bound cargo to other Mediterranean ports outside Greece and declare the voyage terminated.
Container exports from Greece
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FCL exports via Piraeus and Thessaloniki are performed with delays between 2-4 weeks because of congestion and frequent changes in schedules. Via other ports there are better chances to avoid delays, but there is always a risk of schedule changes.
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LCL exports from Greek ports have been discontinued, only alternative to pre-carry by road to other European ports eg. Antwerp. A new LCL service is opening up via Istanbul this week and its success still unknown.
Container imports to Greece
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FCL imports via Piraeus and Thessaloniki are delayed 2-4 weeks because of port congestions and slow throughput of vessels and containers. Imports via Astakos and the other smaller ports are no significant delays, but there is always the risk of schedule change that results to delays.
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LCL imports via Piraeus take 3-4 weeks to have container unstuffed and cleared, via Thessaloniki 1-2 weeks, via Astakos. Lavrio, Skaramangas containers are on-carried to bonded warehouses in Elefsis (close to Piraeus) to receive customs clearance, delays of 1-2 weeks are usual (all estimated times from container discharge).
Container demurrages
Shipping lines charge container demurrage beyond a free of demurrage period, this is reflected in the FCL and LCL costs. It is suggested, if possible, to negotiate with shipping lines longer free of demurrage periods to avoid excessive costs for consignees and thus facilitate their relationship with shippers.
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