Chemicals tankers blocked as Fos-Lavera strike continues

10 December 2008 10:54  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Three chemicals tankers were among 49 ships still blocked from entering the Fos-Lavera oil terminals in southern France on Wednesday as workers continued industrial action into the seventh day, a spokeswoman from the Marseille port authority said.

Thirteen crude tankers and 22 shipments of refined oil products were also among the vessels awaiting entry into the port.

Members of the port workers union have been striking since Thursday against the decision to privatise seven ports including Fos-Lavera – part of a reform of French dockyards.

The union has not set an end-date for the strikes and has extended the action on a daily basis, the port authority spokesman said.

INEOS, which runs a 207,000 bbl/day refinery and downstream petrochemicals plants at Lavera, said the strike had not affected its operations.

"INEOS Refining is closely monitoring the current situation at the Port of Marseilles,” said a spokesman from the UK-based refining and petrochemicals group.

“The company continues to utilise existing stocks and storage and is working with all parties concerned to avoid any future adverse impact on its business or supplies to key customers,” he added.

Total and ExxonMobil also operate refineries connected to Fos-Lavera, which together with INEOS account for around 7% of Europe's total refining capacity.

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By: Mark Watts
+44 20 8652 3214

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