Operations at Barcelona, Tarragona Ports Hit by Catalonia Strike

zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: Coordinadora The strikes being staged in Catalonia following the Spanish governments crackdown on voters of Sundays independence referendum in Catalonia is affecting operations at Spanish ports of Barcelona and Tarragona. Workers in Catalonia took to the streets protesting the violence of the countrys police against the voters which has reportedly left 800 people injured. Thousands of people joined the demonstrations in Barcelona, including several hundreds of port workers who protested outside the regional headquarters of Spains ruling Popular Party, the Associated Press informed. Maritime unions including the State Coordinator of Sea Workers (CETM),  Federation of Port Workers and the Port Stevedores, called for workers to join the strike as a moral obligation to urge politicians to respect democratic values and urge them to turn to dialogue and negotiations, not violence. According to Spanish Ministry of Public Works, a minimum level of services will be in place with respect to land transport, air transport and some of the countrys ports during the strikes, scheduled to take place from 2nd to 13th of October. In practice, this means that surveillance, control and security measures necessary to guarantee 50% of the access and exit to ships would be provided at the affected ports. A minimum of necessary personnel would be provided to guarantee movement of dangerous goods, and perishables, in addition to pilotage, towing, mooring, emergency and stowage activities. Marine signaling and navigation aid systems would be working at full capacity, the ministry said. World Maritime News Staff