Brazil Ports Still Suffer Strike Delays
The 50-days old nationwide Port Authorities strike continues to cause delays in some, but not all Brazilian ports.
In Rio De Janeiro:
The strike of customs officers is affecting vessel’s clearance and other matters that require their attention such as crew replacement and spare parts clearance.
Immigration is attending only once a day around 1600 to 1700hrs. The agents must stay there in advance to grant the services as ship clearance, crew changes etc. It is unclear of the impacts of the strike on ship's clearance and crew/passengers replacements. However delays are also expected within the next few days.
Port health authority remains on strike and free pratique is being granted for 30% of demand. In Rio de Janeiro port, free pratique may take 72 hours to be granted.
Nationally:
Immigration officers had a meeting on 10 August to discuss the maintenance of the strike movement, which started on 07 August. They decided that the strike will be maintained for an undetermined period and their main activities will be carried out by a minimum staff only. No boarding permission will be granted for technicians, superintendents and other people, unless it is checked and authorized by the chief immigration officer and once refused, only the strike command will have power to change and grant such permission.
Regarding port health: It was determined by the STJ (Superior Tribunal of Justice) on 06 Aug 2012, that owing to the current strike movement of the Port Health
officers, which started on 16 July 2012, the civil servants should keep at least 70% of their staff, working normally in order to guarantee the activities in ports, airports, borders and food/farmacy industry.