The Russian cargoship company said dockers have refused to unload its shipssince March in a dispute over wage levels on board.
Stevedores walked out for 24 hours onWednesday morning after alleged intimidation of a union official from arepresentative of its vessel Rusch-5, which was boycotted last week inTornio.
NWS said this was apparently referring to aletter sent to the chairman of the dockers union in which a claim for damages wasmentioned, together with the possible personal liability of the chairman.
“The letter is in accordance with thenormal custom of informing the other counterparty of a dispute on the fact thatthe shipowner holds him liable for any damages,” NWS said.
“It is regrettable, but also veryillustrative, that the harbours of Finland are on strike as a result of thiskind of letter.
“The disputed matter should be resolved inlegal order and in the competent court where the case is pending. Shipowner company regrets that the issue hasescalated into a nationwide strike.”
NWS added that it has been forced to seeklocal injunctions to stop action by dockers in relation to its ships. TheRusch-5 injunction has not yet been complied with, it claimed.
The owner said its fleet has validcertificates for the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and that crewshave no issue with the company and do not want Finnish union representation.
