by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that labour union Ver.di started a warning strike for public sector employees on Wednesday, 26 February.
The strike included pilot transfer services, which halted container ship traffic on the River Elbe in Hamburg.
The newspaper cited a spokesman for the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) as saying that ships requiring a pilot are unable to enter or leave the port.
However, an emergency service agreement has been established with the union to handle emergencies.
The HPA states that transportation should resume on Friday morning if the warning strike is not prolonged.
The authority further reported that the strike impacts barriers, locks, and movable bridges within its jurisdiction in the Port of Hamburg.
