Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 5 of Oct. 2024)

Maritime workers who have joined various unions, including the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) and the Panhellenic Union of Deckhands (PENEN), extended the strike that began on October 22 to October 25. The union is demanding improvement of collective labor agreement for 2025 and several categories of maritime workers, including dock workers and ferry workers, are participating in the strike. There is a high possibility that the service will resume after the strike ends, but there is a possibility that the ongoing strike will be extended further

Cyclone Dana is moving northwest from the Bay of Bengal toward the Indian state of Odisha. It is expected to land in Odisha at the beginning of October 25 and disappear as it moves to central Odisha at the beginning of October 26. As of October 24, the Indian Meteorological Agency (IMD) issued a press release warning that the storm would bring heavy rain to Odisha and Ganges in West Bengal on October 24-25 and strong winds to coastal areas. East Coast Railways has canceled about 200 trains passing through Odisha over the next few days, and dozens of other train services in West Bengal have also been canceled. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata will be suspended from 6 p.m. on October 24 to 9 a.m. on October 25, while Biju Patnaik Airport (BBI) in Bhubaneswar will also be closed from 17:00 on October 24 to 09:00 on October 25.

Spanish labor unions CCOO and UGT announced a general strike in the road transportation sector from October 28. Purpose of strike is to promote early retirement regulations for professional drivers. There are about 250,000 paid truck drivers in Spain, but the union expects self-employed drivers to join the strike, which is likely to increase the number to 500,000. 70% of workers in this field belong to UGT or CCOO. The strike will occur on 28 October, 11, 28, and 29 November, 5 and 9 December, and will become indefinite from 23 December.

At least 50 flights operated by Indian airlines received bomb threats on Sunday, with two being diverted mid-flight. Most of the threats were issued through social media, and over 350 flights have been targeted in the past 14 days, causing significant disruptions. Multiple airlines, including Akasa Air, IndiGo, and Vistara, reported receiving security s, with some flights being diverted or inspected. The Indian government is considering banning individuals involved in hoax threats from flying and is working with international agencies to prevent such threats. The IT Ministry has instructed social media platforms to disable access to misinformation promptly.

Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal went on strike on Sunday due to an impasse in negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreement. The strike affects all Port of Montreal terminals until Monday morning, with some exceptions for grain vessels and supplies to Newfoundland and Labrador. The union has been on an overtime strike since October 10, which will continue after Sunday's strike. The Maritime Employers Association hopes for a fruitful mediation process to resolve the impasse and reach a negotiated collective agreement. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling for ports to be declared an essential service to prevent future disruptions to the supply chain.

Typhoon Trami forced the suspension of operations at several airports in central Vietnam, including Phu Bai International Airport, Da Nang International Airport, Dong Hoi Airport, and Chu Lai Airport, due to potential threats to safe operation. Airlines adjusted their operation plans to ensure passenger safety, and passengers were advised to monitor the storm and check for flight updates. The airports resumed normal services later in the day, with Dong Hoi Airport expected to normalize its services from 17:00. The typhoon brought heavy rain and strong winds, with a maximum wind speed of 62-74 km per hour and gusts up to level 10. The storm is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression over land, with a high risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Flydubai has cancelled flights to Jordan, Iran, Iraq, and Israel due to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Some flights have been diverted, and the airline is closely monitoring the situation to adjust its flight schedule accordingly. Emirates has also suspended flights to/from Baghdad and Tehran until October 30, and to/from Beirut until October 31.

Hundreds of Qantas engineers will strike on Friday morning over alleged pay disputes. About 600 engineers will carry out two four hour stoppages during peak travel times at airports across the country. The engineers are responsible for conducting final safety checks before departure and towing and marshalling planes. Engineers are calling for a new enterprise agreement with a 15 per cent first year wage increase, followed by a five per cent rise for following years. As well as engaging in a strike, engineers will also be attending the QantAS annual general meeting AGM in Hobart.

Local media reported that about 60,000 port workers in Brazil will go on strike for 12 hours on Tuesday, October 22. The strike will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time and will affect dock work and port labor at all ports across Brazil. About 20,000 people will participate in the strike at Santos Port, Brazil's largest port, and dockers affiliated with the three national federations have confirmed joining the strike. This industrial action serves as a warning to the Federal Government in relation to a proposed bill that reportedly aims to remove labour rights from temporary workers and dockers and eliminate the public wharf in Santos.

Workers at the Port of Venice are on strike, demanding clarity on a new operational tender they find ambiguous, which has led to halted port operations. Tensions rose when a meeting with port officials was disrupted by a heated altercation. Unions, including Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, and Ultrasporti, are pressing for formal commitments on worker demands, which echo concerns at other Italian ports. Further discussions are anticipated to resolve the issue.