Strike warning

The Strike Club said its results reflect growing labour unrest, although tonnage and reserves have been boosted as more companies opt for insurance against delays. It said the early months of 2013 have been marked by extremely damaging labour strike action in several countries which has punished ship owners and charterers even though they are innocent parties. Some of the worst trouble spots in recent weeks have been in South America, particularly Chile where a three-week strike crippled the country’s key ports, blocking exports of copper, fruit and wood products. Chile’s business leaders estimated the country lost more than US$200m a day due to the conflict.