Mumbai docker strike delayed till July 9, widespread disruption feared

DOCKERS at Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva) port will delay a planned strike until July 9 three months after their previous strike that lasted four days and cost the port, India's top container port, US$30 million.

Dockers will strike against APM Terminal's Mumbai facility are expected to cause severe disruption for the economy because 60 per cent of India's container trade passes through Nehru port.

The port which handles almost half of the country's total maritime traffic has suffered crippling congestion at its three container terminals breaking capacity maximum in fiscal 2011-2012 at 4.3 million TEU.

The building of a fourth terminal will double capacity and ease capacity squeeze, said a report from UK's Port Technology International.