Export trade of Hellas was negatively affected by the ongoing mobilisations by dockworkers, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) president Constantine Michalos, in an exclusive interview with Athens News Agency. Although no official data has yet been released, a negative trend is already evident. Should the continuing work disputes surrounding the country's two major ports, Piraeus and Thessalonica,  persist - as dockworkers have warned - the negative effects on the country's economy are expected to intensify. Michalos said that EBEA had met with representatives of the dockworkers, with their Federation, and made it clear that all the sides involved were steadfast against the mobilisations, despite the initial reservations of the business world to the first privatisation plan tabled by the preceding Merchant Marine ministry leadership, adding that there was no justification today. EBEA, he continued, believed that there was no reason today for the strike actions to continue, and warned that, if the labour action continued past this current week, many problems would be created in the exports and imports sector.
The difference with the almost two-month strikes which occurred at the end of 2006 on the same matter, is that this time around, the country's public opinion is less keen on agreeing with the dockworkers' stance on the future status of the ports. Although the government has clarified that its objective is not to privatize the ports, but to modernize their infrastructures and container handling perfromance by means of a 30-year concession period, the dockworkers continue to react fiercly against such a case, worried that jobs are at stake. Last week's remarks made by George Voulgarakis, Minister of Mercantile Shipping on the matter, suggested that no jobs will be threatened by the ongoing process. But the workers will continue to abstain from work on weekends at least until the end of the month, with the decision on potentially new 24-hour strikes expected to be made at the same time. That said, the government is expected to release the much anticipated inviting text on the awarding process competition by Friday. The first offers should be expected until the 18th of March. The second phase will include the evaluation of the economic offers of the companies.
Cosco and Hutchison are interested for Piraeus, with the Chinese conglomerate having repeatedly expressed its interest on the port's container handling operations. They regard Hellas as a gateway to the broader Balcans area. Hutchinson on the other hand is also very interested in Piraeus, but also for Thessalonica port, already operating 46 ports in 23 countries worldwide. Another interested party is Dubai Ports World, with APM Terminals, a unit of AP-Moeller Maersk recently adding itself on the list, depending on the terms which will be set by the Ministry.
Besides port operators, the largest container shipping lines are also among the list of interested parties, but their participation in the awarding process is subject to the final text and its terms. Israel's ZIM Lines, Sinotrans, Evergreen and MSC (Mediterannean Shipping  Company) are also among those interested, according to some sources.