25 March 2024 (Lloyd's List) - PORTS in Australia are continuing to face disruption as unions and activists protest against calls made by vessels operated by Israel’s Zim.

The Container Transport Alliance Australia said major container land-side logistics disruptions continued in Melbourne last week as port protests combined with road building delays and terminal IT outages.

“Another damaging port disruption was endured at Webb Dock on Friday evening with Victoria International Container Terminal again targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters,” the CTAA said.

“The protest was violent, with three police officers reported injured. The protesters seemingly have no regard for the impact that their actions have on law-abiding container logistics workers who are just trying to go about their business of maintaining vital supply chain services to keep every Australian’s way of life sustained.”

On Sunday night further protests were held in Sydney where protesters were joined by Maritime Union of Australia members at Patrick Terminals’ Port Botany terminal. Roads to the terminal were temporarily closed.

The groups at both incidents were protesting about calls made by Zim’s 5,500 teu Ganges (IMO: 9954163), claiming a right to protest Zim and all Israeli ships in the ports.

Ganges is deployed on the Zim Australia Express that serves Australia’s east coast ports after calls in China. It is due to leave Sydney on Tuesday before calling at Brisbane on March 28.

This is not the first time disruption has occurred at Australia’s ports since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. In February, VICT was closed by road blockages caused by protests over Zim calls.

The CTAA is calling for tougher laws on protesting around what it considers to be critical infrastructure, although a bill in the Victoria State Parliament seeking to achieve this status for Melbourne was voted down.

“People have the right to engage in peaceful protests,” the CTAA said.

“However, there is a countervailing right not to impede the rights of other people, such as the right to the freedom of movement.”