Dark clouds gather over the Shinsundae and Gamman container terminals as a general strike by the Korean Transport Workers' Union paralyzed Busan Port on Sunday.
Busan Harbor, which accounts for 80 percent of the country's container cargoes, was virtually paralyzed when a nationwide strike by the Korean Transport Workers' Union went into its third day on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, container storage at seven container terminals of Busan Harbor's North Port reached 86 percent on Sunday, far higher than the normal daily average of 72.1 percent.
At the Busan International Container Terminal Pier in Busan, which is used by Hanjin and Sebang shipping companies, storage reached 101.8 percent at one point that day. At the new and old Gamman container terminals at Busan Harbor it reached saturation point with 99.7 percent and 97.2 percent respectively. If the strike continues, it is feared that imports and exports will be severely disrupted at various workplaces early this week.
The volume of containers handled currently at major ports and inland container docks across the country has dropped drastically to 14,969 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), a mere 22 percent of the normal daily average of 67,871 TEU.
The freight loading ratio of cement cargo shipped from Danyang and Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province fell to less than 10 percent of the normal daily average. According to the ministry, a total of 13,369 truckers went on strike, causing export disruptions worth US$1.69 billion so far. On a total of 21 occasions, KTWU members hurled iron ball bearings or bottles at non-union truckers to stop them from transporting cargoes.
A ministry official said, "KTWU-affiliated truckers' obstructive attempts have declined remarkably as compared to 2003. But we've asked police to deploy patrol cars and 45 police troop companies in preparation for an emergency."
The government and the KTWU have entered negotiations to solve the situation. The ministry official hinted at imminent results saying, "In the talks on Saturday, we came near agreement on the government's acceptance of the KTWU's major demands on the timing of the introduction of standard freight rates and an increase in transport fees."
Busan Harbor, which accounts for 80 percent of the country's container cargoes, was virtually paralyzed when a nationwide strike by the Korean Transport Workers' Union went into its third day on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, container storage at seven container terminals of Busan Harbor's North Port reached 86 percent on Sunday, far higher than the normal daily average of 72.1 percent.
At the Busan International Container Terminal Pier in Busan, which is used by Hanjin and Sebang shipping companies, storage reached 101.8 percent at one point that day. At the new and old Gamman container terminals at Busan Harbor it reached saturation point with 99.7 percent and 97.2 percent respectively. If the strike continues, it is feared that imports and exports will be severely disrupted at various workplaces early this week.
The volume of containers handled currently at major ports and inland container docks across the country has dropped drastically to 14,969 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), a mere 22 percent of the normal daily average of 67,871 TEU.
The freight loading ratio of cement cargo shipped from Danyang and Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province fell to less than 10 percent of the normal daily average. According to the ministry, a total of 13,369 truckers went on strike, causing export disruptions worth US$1.69 billion so far. On a total of 21 occasions, KTWU members hurled iron ball bearings or bottles at non-union truckers to stop them from transporting cargoes.
A ministry official said, "KTWU-affiliated truckers' obstructive attempts have declined remarkably as compared to 2003. But we've asked police to deploy patrol cars and 45 police troop companies in preparation for an emergency."
The government and the KTWU have entered negotiations to solve the situation. The ministry official hinted at imminent results saying, "In the talks on Saturday, we came near agreement on the government's acceptance of the KTWU's major demands on the timing of the introduction of standard freight rates and an increase in transport fees."