Antofagasta (Hafen)

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Striking Miners Block Export Terminal in Chile Port of Coloso (near Antofagasta)

Union workers from BHP Billiton's Escondida copper mine have blockaded the port of Coloso, Chile as part of a month-long strike over pay. The strike began on February 9, and BHP has made three offers to settle the dispute, none of which have satisfied the Escondida Number One union, which has refused to return to the negotiating table. The union contends that management wants to reduce wages by 14 percent, lengthen the work day and introduce a different benefits system. According to Chile's Diario Financiero, union officials recently sent a signal of their displeasure by burning a copy of an invitation to negotiate. BHP has begun to bring in temporary labor to replace its 2,500 union workers, and it intends to slowly bring production back online. The union strongly objects to the use of newly recruited labor. "We roundly reject the various actions that the Escondida mine is taking to break the unity demonstrated by the members of the union," said Gustavo Tapia, president mining union FMC, in a statement to Reuters. http://maritime-executive.com/article/striking-miners-block-export-terminal-in-chile

Strong waves close copper, coal, fuel ports in northern Chile

Strong waves have closed ports across northern Chile, including key terminals for the export of copper concentrates and coal imports, the Chilean Navy’s meteorological service said. The service said the ports of Patache, Mejillones, Antofagasta and Tocopilla were all fully or partially closed as a result of the rough conditions, driven by a strong southwesterly. Patache is owned by Compania Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi to export concentrates from its high altitude open pit copper mine. The waves had also closed the Centinela mechanized quay used to export concentrates from Antofagasta Minerals’ Centinela mining operation. The rough weather also affected the Port of Antofagasta, which exports metals and concentrates from mines in northern Chile and neighboring Bolivia, and is used by fuels distributor Enex to import refined products. Source: Platts

Stevedores still on strike

Stevedores at Antofagasta Terminal Internacional (ATI) are still on strike. Port operations were suspended at 2300 hours on 12 November. No agreement has been reached yet.