Labor Dispute Causes Delays at Rotterdam’s Hutchison Delta II Terminal

The labor strife that has plagued ports around the world has spread to Rotterdam with reports of long delays and slowdowns due to a contract dispute at the Hutchison Delta II Terminal. Two labor unions have broken off negotiations and backed away from a tentative agreement threatening to continue their strikes until the operator meets the terms of the tentative agreement.

The terminal, which handles up to a quarter of the container volume through the port, is also the busiest container port in Europe. Previously owned by APM Terminals, the facility was sold to Chinese Hutchison Ports in 2021. Located adjacent to Hutchison’s other terminal, Delta II has an annual capacity of 3.3 million TEU.

Plans for Expansion

After acquiring the terminal, Hutchison entered into a partnership with MSC’s TIL group to develop a new automated container terminal with five berths, set to be one of the most advanced operations in Europe, scheduled to open in 2027.

Contract Negotiations and Dispute

Workers at the Delta II terminal are represented by two unions, FNV Havens and CNV. Contract negotiations began in November 2024, with one of the key conditions being a generous severance package and financial guarantees due to future employment uncertainties stemming from the plans for the new Omega terminal.

After long and contentious negotiations, a deal was reached on January 31 for a three-year contract with wage increases and benefits. However, the unions demanded written financial guarantees, which Hutchison failed to provide by the deadline, leading to the breakdown of the tentative agreement.

Current Status and Impact on Operations

Work at the terminal was halted on February 9 and resumed on February 11, with reports of ongoing slowdowns. Maersk issued a statement warning customers of disruptions to vessel schedules and potential delays in supply chains.

Both unions anticipate a prolonged dispute, with preparations for further actions and strikes. Hutchison has apologized for the inconvenience to shippers while acknowledging the delays and long wait times at the terminal.

As the labor dispute continues, stakeholders in the shipping industry are closely monitoring the situation at Rotterdam’s Hutchison Delta II Terminal for any further developments.