NEWSROOM
Protected Industrial Action Update - 31 October
Dear Customers and Stakeholders
Unfortunately, we have received further notices of protected industrial action from the maritime unions which will continue for much of this week, nationally, as well as further actions that will be disruptive through the month of November.
We sincerely regret the impact that this action is having on shipping and port operations and the harm it is causing.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, Svitzer teams are working with directly affected customers on managing the impact of these disruptions.
Protected Industrial Action – 3 – 30 November
Additional notices of action include:
- Work stoppages by tug masters (preventing the crewing of tugs) at the following West Australian ports and locations on Thursday, 3 November:
- Geraldton – 4 hour work stoppage from 1200 (local time)
- Fremantle and Albany – A stoppage of work for 24 hours commencing at 0700 (local time)
- Kwinana – A stoppage of work for 24 hours commencing at 0800 (local time).
- Bans on deckhands performing overtime at Victorian ports Svitzer operates at – affecting crew flexibility and relief work from 00:01 Friday 4 November through to 11.59pm Sunday 6 November.
- Bans on the performance of work on certain shipping line vessels at ports across Australia (these customers have already been directly contacted and contingency planning is underway) in Fremantle from 00.00am 2 November; and from 00.01am Friday 4 November through to 11.59pm Thursday 10 November.
Ports included are: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Eden, Fremantle, Geelong, Geraldton, Kwinana, Melbourne, Mourilyan, Newcastle, Port Pirie, Port Jackson, Port Botany and Westernport.
- Bans on engineers performing relief work at ports across Australia from 00:01 3 November to midnight 30 November – affecting crew availabilities. Ports included are:
- Adelaide, Albany, Brisbane, Cairns, Eden, Fremantle, Geraldton, Kwinana, Melbourne, Mourilyan, Newcastle, Port Kembla, Port Pirie, Sydney (Jackson & Botany), Westernport.
- Adelaide, Albany, Brisbane, Cairns, Eden, Fremantle, Geraldton, Kwinana, Melbourne, Mourilyan, Newcastle, Port Kembla, Port Pirie, Sydney (Jackson & Botany), Westernport.
- Further bans for tug masters on continuous work periods beyond 12 hours of work in Brisbane.
- Permanent Part Time employees unavailable for duty for one day in the Port of Newcastle from 0800 3 November.
- Further bans on training and use of Svitzer systems.
We sincerely apologise for this ongoing disruption.
Nb. Summary of action below – searchable table by Port with detail of impact at bottom of this post.
| Port | State Date of Action | Period | Type of Industrial Action(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Albany | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Albany | 2022-11-03 07:00:00 | 24hours | 24 hour work stoppage from 0700 |
| Albany | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Albany | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Albany | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Adelaide | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Adelaide | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Adelaide | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Adelaide | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Adelaide | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Brisbane | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Brisbane | 2022-11-01 09:00:00 | 72 hours | ban on training masters, engineers and ratings |
| Brisbane | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Brisbane | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Brisbane | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Brisbane | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Cairns | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Cairns | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Cairns | 2022-11-01 00:01:00 | 24 hours | 24 hour work stoppage |
| Cairns | 2022-11-02 00:00:00 | 24 hours | 24 hour work stoppage |
| Cairns | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Cairns | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Cairns | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Eden | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Eden | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Eden | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Fremantle | 2/11/2022 00.00 | 24 hours | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-03 07:00:00 | 24hours | 24 hour work stoppage from 0700 |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Fremantle | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Geraldton | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Geraldton | 2022-11-03 12:00:00 | 4 hours | 4 hour work stoppage from 1200 (midday) |
| Geraldton | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Geraldton | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Geelong | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 72 hours - until 11.59pm 6 Nov | ban on performance of overtime, including recalls from leave |
| Geelong | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Geelong | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-03 08:00:00 | 24 hours | 24 hour work stoppage from 0800 |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Kwinana | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Lucinda | 2022-11-01 00:01:00 | 24hour | 24hour work stoppage |
| Lucinda | 2022-11-02 00:01:00 | 24-hour | 24hour work stoppage |
| Lucinda | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Lucinda | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Lucinda | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Melbourne | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Melbourne | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on entering data into a Svitzer system |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | 24 hour | ban on performing recall and/or relief work |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 72 hours - until 11.59pm 6 Nov | ban on performance of overtime, including recalls from leave |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Melbourne | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Mourilyan | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Mourilyan | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Mourilyan | 2022-11-01 00:01:00 | 24hour | 24hour work stoppage |
| Mourilyan | 2022-11-02 00:00:00 | 24 hours | 24 hour work stoppage |
| Mourilyan | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Mourilyan | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Mourilyan | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Newcastle | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Newcastle | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on enetering data into a Svitzer system |
| Newcastle | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | 24 hour | ban on performing recall and/or relief work |
| Newcastle | 2022-11-03 08:00:00 | 24 hour | work stoppage / unavailability by certain Masters - Part Time employees |
| Newcastle | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Newcastle | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Newcastle | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Port Kembla | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Port Kembla | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | 24 hour | ban on performing recall and/or relief work |
| Port Kembla | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Port Kembla | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Port Kembla | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Port Pirie | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Port Pirie | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Port Pirie | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-10-28 08:00:00 | Indefinite | Ban on entering data into a Svitzer system |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-11-01 08:00:00 | 24 hour | ban on performing recall and/or relief work |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | Ban on performance of work on certain shipping line vessels (customers have been contacted directly already) |
| Sydney (Port Jackson & Botany) | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
| Westernport | 2022-11-03 00:01:00 | 27 days - ends midnight 30 Nov 2022 | ban on performing recall and/or relief work by engineers |
| Westernport | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 72 hours - until 11.59pm 6 Nov | ban on performance of overtime, including recalls from leave |
| Westernport | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 6 days - until 11.59 10 Nov | ban on inputting data into maintenance system |
| Westernport | 2022-11-04 00:01:00 | 7 days - until 11.59pm 10/11/2022 | ban on undertaking online training courses |
Definition / explanation of industrial actions
Ban on beginning a job that will take employees past the 12th hour of continuous duty: Our crews work 12 hour shifts with some flexibility to go over 12 hours for a small amount of time such as 30 minutes as over time. This ban will remove that flexibility that each crew will only work 12 hours. If a job is scheduled that may bring them over 12 hours they will not start that job. This does not mean that we cannot provide 24 hour service. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Ban on continuous operation of vessel or vessels for a period in excess of 5 hours without a 30-minute rest break: Our crews take relevant meal/rest breaks flexibly to accommodate port shipping schedule. This ban removes that flexibility that each crew will take a 30 minute break if they have operated continuously for 5 hours. It means tugs need to be scheduled differently and our operations team will work closely with VTS teams to minimize any delays that may occur as a result of this ban. It is difficult to predict impact as it depends on the schedule in the port on the day.
Ban on performing recall and/or relief work by masters, engineers or deckhands: Bans on being recalled from leave and performing relief work. This effectively removes relief capacity at several ports and the ability to service operations should there be any absences, illness or leave.