Australia averts port disruption by scrapping proposed towage lockout

Australia’s Fair Work Commission has ordered tugboat operator Svitzer to cancel its decision to indefinitely lock out hundreds of its workers in Australia.

PHOTO: Container terminal in Australia's Brisbane port. Patrick Terminals

Earlier this week, Svitzer announced plans to lock out its 582-strong towage workforce from today, in response to recent strike actions and protests by worker unions.

Svitzer stated that recent strike actions by the maritime union have hugely impacted its towage operations. It highlighted that more than 250 instances of strike actions since 26 October has caused 2,000 hours of work stoppages.  

The lockout announcement by Svitzer caused concern among bunker suppliers as some feared that it would impact bunker operations in Australian ports. Particularly in Brisbane where bunkering is carried out at berth and requires tugboat support.

By Nithin Chandran

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