by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
(7 November: This article was updated to remove information about Hapag-Lloyd suspending all ocean services to Montreal after the carrier corrected the announcement on their website)
The strike at the Port of Montreal, which started on 31 October and specifically impacts Termont Terminals, has disrupted ocean and rail freight services, according to container carriers Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk.
In a recent update, Hapag-Lloyd told Kuehne+Nagel that it will resort to slow steaming for vessels bound for Montreal Port.
Rail operations at Montreal Gateway Terminal (MGT) facilities were also suspended on 5 November until further notice.
CN Rail has suspended and removed all capacity at inland terminals for exports destined for Racine terminals. Additionally, Maersk suspended the export detention clock for cargo moving by rail to Montreal on 5 November.
The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) reports that container handling at the Port of Montreal is significantly slowing down.
Consequently, the association said it is still implementing mitigating strategies to limit the impact of the longshore workers' strike.
Furthermore, the Federal Labour Court has again dismissed the MEA's request to declare the partial strike illegal.
The decision confirms that the union retains the right to strike, even partially, without violating its duty to negotiate in good faith.
Current situation at British Columbia ports
Meanwhile, the strikes in British Columbia enter their third day today, impacting all members of the ILWU (local 514) coast-wide.
In response to the strike notice by the union, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) formally began a lockout of more than 700 unionised West Coast port workers.
Maersk reports that CN Rail has halted all international intermodal shipments bound for the west coast ports of Prince Rupert, Robbank, Centerm, Vanterm, and Fraser Surrey Docks.
In addition, on 5 November, CPKC Rail ceased accepting all export loads and pre-billed empties destined for Vancouver ports.
The Danish carrier reported updates for vessels on to its TP1 service. According to the carrier on its website, the following container vessels are impacted:
- Prince Rupert: Boxship San Felipe arrived on 4 November and will wait at anchorage until a resolution is reached.
