Seafarers and community supporters will be gathering for a peaceful informational picket 1030am Sunday 2 April across the road from Haven Road dairy by Port Nelson (213 Haven Road, Beachville, Nelson, 7010).
Facebook event https://fb.me/e/2GvQKq0pz
What is the cause?
In March 2023, the giant global shipping company Maersk cancelled the Coastal Connect container service which linked New Zealand ports.
Two New Zealand crewed ships Maersk Nadi and Maersk Nansha had been in service for less than a year on this run.
The Maersk decision resulted the loss of up to sixty jobs of crew members, and more disruption of New Zealand supply chains.
New Zealand has an ongoing supply chain crisis. That is why goods are taking so long to be imported and exported and moved around New Zealand.
The “blue highway” of coastal shipping is an efficient and low emissions mode of keeping New Zealand moving. Coastal shipping provides resilience in a volatile world and even in the face of natural disasters.
The Maritime Union is calling for:
Changes to the Maritime Transport Act to prioritize New Zealand flagged and crewed ships on the New Zealand coast.
Government support for a New Zealand owned coastal shipping operator to provide priority service for New Zealand ports and industry
Training and high quality employment opportunities for New Zealanders in our own maritime industry.
Authorized by Craig Harrison, Maritime Union of New Zealand, 220 Willis Street, Wellington
