JOC Staff | Feb 21, 2013 2:41PM EST
Container terminals in India’s Port of Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva) remained closed on Thursday as local dockworkers continued to participate in a 48-hour nationwide general strike called by major trade unions.
The two-day stoppage, protesting the union government’s labor policies, was scheduled to end at midnight.
“There are no activities inside the cargo terminals or the surrounding port area, including container freight stations. Trucking is also affected,” APL India said in a notice to customers. “Port offices of shipping lines were shut down forcibly by the strikers this morning.”
Port officials said three container ships are stranded at the terminals, including a Maersk vessel, and two vessels are waiting for berth.
Nehru, with a port-owned terminal and two private facilities, handles nearly 60 percent of India’s total containerized traffic.
Reports said operations at other major ports, including Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Cochin, were also disrupted Thursday morning because of the strike.
