Finland Dodges Maritime Gridlock

The Finnish Engineer Association and the Finnish Seamen Union canceled their previously announced industrial action in support of the icebreaker crew strike, after the unions reached an agreement with Finnish shipowners Wednesday evening.

The unions said that they cancelled the announced strike that could have affected hundreds of thousands of Easter travelers after their demand for collective terms to be applicable throughout the whole icebreaking sector was met.

The previous agreement covered only the icebreakers operated by the state-owned Arctia Shipping company.

The new collective agreement is valid until March 2017, and the new provisions will take effect retroactively as of March 1, 2015.

Had the agreement not been made, as of 2 pm local time today, all vessels flying the flag of Finland would have been prevented from departing the Finnish ports.

World Maritime News Staff