THE HARBOUR Master at Fremantle Ports is not providing vessel traffic services during industrial action being taken by pilot boat operators and VTS officers.
A notice issued by the Harbour Master on 18 August said there would be no VTS service until 20 August at 0530 hours.
In a separate notice to clients, director of Container Transport Alliance Australia, Neil Chambers, said it was expected the Maersk Yellowstone was due to arrive in Fremantle from Singapore in the early hours of Monday, 19 August, the OOCL Panama in the evening of 19 August, and the MSC NURYA G, in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 August.
“It is presumed that these arriving container vessels will be impacted by the withdrawal of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) at the Port and their berthing will be delayed. It is also presumed that Sydney Express will not be able to depart the Port until VTS resumes,” the statement said.
The Sydney Express (Hapag Lloyd) is alongside at Patrick Fremantle Terminal having arrived on 17 August.
The Container Alliance notice said that on Sunday, no vessels were alongside at DP World Fremantle Terminal, and coincidently the DP World Terminal was closed for scheduled maintenance work with road receival and delivery operations recommencing at 0600hr Tuesday, 20 August.
Fremantle Ports received notice last week that vessel traffic service officers and small craft personnel covered by the Marine Services Enterprise Agreement intended to take 48 hours protected industrial action from 5.30am, Sunday August 18 for 48 hours.
The Harbour Master’s note said during the period of impact Fremantle Port Authority will operate as a Local Port Service in relation to vessel movements and berth operations.
“Directions to vessels will be issued by the Harbour Master’s office under the WA Port Authorities Act – Sections 103, 104 and 105.
“Communications with vessels shall be maintained by Fremantle Harbour Master’s Office via VHF channels 16 /12 or (08) 9431 6333. Vessels requiring to contact Fremantle Port Authority including during emergencies, may do so via VHF channels 16 /12 using the call sign ‘Fremantle Harbour Master’s Office’.
The Small Craft Masters and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Officers employed under the Marine Services Enterprise Agreement voted in late June for protected action through a Protected Action Ballot Order (PABO). As required by the Protected Action Ballot Order, Fremantle Ports received the notice three days in advance of the industrial action.
The Container Alliance notice went on to say that on Wednesday 14 August, Fremantle Ports indicated that “vessel cargo operations and port logistics operations will not be impacted by this protected industrial action. Vessels at berth within the port will continue their scheduled cargo operations during this period, however ship movements to and from berths may be impacted.”
“This industrial action comes at a time also when Western Australian importers and exporters are experiencing changing container shipping patterns and capacity allocations by international shipping lines servicing Fremantle, higher ocean freight rates and surcharges, and cargo congestion delays in the major transshipment port of Singapore. “It is hoped that the parties to the Fremantle Ports’ industrial dispute are able to continue good-faith negotiations to reach an enterprise agreement solution without the need for further protected industrial action,” the notice said.
