Industrial action by Greek dock workers dissatisfied with moves to privatise Greece's container terminals is delaying imports and exports, and dockers threathen to continue working to rule until the end of January.
Dockers are operating a ban on overtime and, in some cases, have gone on all-out strike.
Piraeus is the main port affected by the dockers' action, and was the scene of a violent demonstration. Greece's second port, Thessaloniki, was closed for a week and some port customers fear dissent could now spread to other locations.
Most lines are either attempting to berth at Volos, the third largest port in Greece, or to discharge cargo in Malta or Turkey. One agent claimed some lines were refusing bookings altogether.
A spokesman for Bulcon, which serves Piraeus and Thessaloniki, said one vessel has been affected so far, but it is continuing to accept cargo.
He said Bulcon is hoping the situation will change by the time the vessels approach port, but if not, they will take cargo on to Istanbul, one of the regular ports of call.
He said cargo will be held in Turkey until the Greek ports are clear, unless a customer wishes to pick up the goods by road.
Contaz Line, which calls at Piraeus and Volos, has not yet been affected. A ship was due to sail from Antwerp last Tuesday and the line hoped to get into berth in Piraeus. If Piraeus was blocked, the vessel would carry on to Volos, which had so far not been affected to the same extent.
Local forwarders are adopting a variety of solutions to bypass the strike-ridden ports.
Piraeus's container terminal currently comprises two piers. There are plans for a third, which is expected to be built by 2010. But this depends on customer demand after the completion of a Pier I extension, which will increase the capacity of the terminal about 60 percent or one million TEUs when it opens later this year.
The dockers' protests centre on plans by Piraeus to lease two of the three piers to private investors.
The northern port of Thessaloniki is expected to approve a similar arrangement covering its whole container facility.
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