An indefinite strike by crew members has officially started on several ships owned by Icelandic shipping line Eimskip. The strike began on Monday, May 25, after wage negotiations failed to reach an agreement.
Impact on shipping operations
The strike was called by the Icelandic Seamen’s Union (SÍ) and involves bosuns and able seamen. The industrial action directly impacts Eimskip’s fleet:
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Vessels hit: The strike has begun on three of Eimskip’s own ships: the Brúarfoss, Dettifoss, and Selfoss.
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Schedules affected: The strike will affect the company’s sailing schedule and services.
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Contingency plans: Eimskip has been preparing for this scenario in order to minimize disruptions to customer service as much as possible.
Port terminals operating normally
While the ships themselves are facing standstills, shore-side operations are currently unaffected:
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Terminal operations: Terminal operations and other activities of the company are proceeding normally.
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Harbor deal reached: Last week, an agreement was reached between the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise (SA), on behalf of Eimskip, and SÍ regarding harbor employees in Sundahöfn.
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Strike called off: Because of that agreement, the announced strike at the Sundahöfn harbor was called off.
Mediated salary talks continue
Negotiations regarding the wages and salary terms of bosuns and able seamen are still ongoing with the involvement of the State Mediator. Eimskip regrets that an agreement was not reached before the strike began and hopes that an agreement will be reached soon. The company will continue to keep customers updated as the situation develops.
