Trade union strike stops container ships in Germany’s Port of Hamburg

A strike by public sector workers at the port in Hamburg has largely paralysed cargo-ship traffic to Germany’s biggest and most important port, a spokesman for the Hamburg Port Authority HPA confirmed to dpa on Thursday.

Large container ships that require pilotage to move along the Elbe river between the North Sea and the Port of Hamburg cannot move because the transfer boats that move pilots between shore and the ships have been shut down by the strike.

Without the pilot transfer service, the pilots cannot board the ships – and without pilots, who are able to guide often unfamiliar ship crews through the complex passages, container ships are not allowed to move through the Port of Hamburg.

The authority said that ships that do not require pilots can enter and leave the port as usual, and intra-port traffic will also take place.

An emergency service agreement has been reached with the striking trade union in case of emergencies.

According to the HPA, the strike also affects barrages, locks and moveable bridges around the Port of Hamburg.

According to the verdi trade union, which called the strike, container ships have not been sailing in the Port of Hamburg since Wednesday evening at 6 pm (1700 GMT).

That will definitely remain the case throughout the day, said a verdi spokeswoman. She was unable to say how many ships would be affected by the strike and would be left waiting in the North Sea.

According to the HPA, ship traffic should resume on Friday morning – provided the strike is not extended.

A strike by public sector workers at the port in Hamburg has largely paralysed cargo-ship traffic to Germany’s biggest and most important port, a spokesman for the Hamburg Port Authority HPA confirmed to dpa on Thursday.

Large container ships that require pilotage to move along the Elbe river between the North Sea and the Port of Hamburg cannot move because the transfer boats that move pilots between shore and the ships have been shut down by the strike.

Without the pilot transfer service, the pilots cannot board the ships – and without pilots, who are able to guide often unfamiliar ship crews through the complex passages, container ships are not allowed to move through the Port of Hamburg.

The authority said that ships that do not require pilots can enter and leave the port as usual, and intra-port traffic will also take place.

An emergency service agreement has been reached with the striking trade union in case of emergencies.

According to the HPA, the strike also affects barrages, locks and moveable bridges around the Port of Hamburg.

According to the verdi trade union, which called the strike, container ships have not been sailing in the Port of Hamburg since Wednesday evening at 6 pm (1700 GMT).

That will definitely remain the case throughout the day, said a verdi spokeswoman. She was unable to say how many ships would be affected by the strike and would be left waiting in the North Sea.

According to the HPA, ship traffic should resume on Friday morning – provided the strike is not extended.