French ports face ongoing disruption

French port workers are planning a series of unscheduled strikes as their campaign against port reforms enters a new phase.

Strikes threaten French port operations

"There can be disruption in any port at any time," one bunker supplier told Bunkerworld on Monday.

She said bunker supplies could only be guaranteed four hours ahead.  "All enquiries are subject to strikes," she warned.

Meanwhile some supply resumed in the French oil port of Fos-Lavera on Monday.  Bunkering in the port was halted on Friday when strikes made it impossible for bunker barges to load cargo.

"We're looking more to irregular actions, less spectacular but which will allow us to keep going for a longer time," said Pascal Galeote, secretary general of the Marseille port workers section of the French union CGT.

Marseille encompasses the oil terminals of Fos-Lavera.  Port authorities on Monday said the oil terminal at Fos was working, but that problems remained in other parts of the port complex.

Workers are striking to protest a government privatization plan.  The CGT union, the main organizer of the action, is reported to have called a full, 24-hour, nationwide strike on Wednesday, an official for the union said earlier Monday.