A fifth consecutive day of strikes by workers at the French hub terminals of Fos and Lavera on Monday has caused the backlog of tankers forming outside the port of Marseilles to increase to 42, reports said.
That number, which includes both crude and product tankers, is likely to increase further as a “go-slow” industrial action is slated to continue for “an unlimited period”, sources say.
Marseilles port officials have been quoted saying that as of Monday, the strike had blocked 11 oil tankers, 22 product tankers, three chemical ships, five gas tankers and one refuelling tanker from entering the port.
Inchcape Shipping Services said 11 crude and 19 product carriers were waiting outside the port on Monday, waiting to load or discharge, with another 25 tankers due to arrive over the next few days.
Marseilles port officials apparently admitted on Monday that they were unable to say when operations would get back to normal.
Port workers for Fos and Lavera are reported to be protesting privatisation plans.
Latest reports indicate that the rising number of tankers being help up in Marseilles' anchorage has led to a spike in freight rates for spot aframax voyages within the Mediterranean.
“The strikes are keeping tankers away from the availability list,” one broker told Tankerworld on Tuesday.
That number, which includes both crude and product tankers, is likely to increase further as a “go-slow” industrial action is slated to continue for “an unlimited period”, sources say.
Marseilles port officials have been quoted saying that as of Monday, the strike had blocked 11 oil tankers, 22 product tankers, three chemical ships, five gas tankers and one refuelling tanker from entering the port.
Inchcape Shipping Services said 11 crude and 19 product carriers were waiting outside the port on Monday, waiting to load or discharge, with another 25 tankers due to arrive over the next few days.
Marseilles port officials apparently admitted on Monday that they were unable to say when operations would get back to normal.
Port workers for Fos and Lavera are reported to be protesting privatisation plans.
Latest reports indicate that the rising number of tankers being help up in Marseilles' anchorage has led to a spike in freight rates for spot aframax voyages within the Mediterranean.
“The strikes are keeping tankers away from the availability list,” one broker told Tankerworld on Tuesday.