Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of February 2024)

Labor unions in various fields are scheduled to strike across Greece on February 28 to meet the requirements, including salary increases. This strike impacts on sector of air, transportation, health, lodging, public administration, construction, telecommunications, etc. ADEDY, Greece's largest public sector union, is also scheduled to go on strike 24 hours a day on February 28. Air traffic controllers will also join ADEDY to strike, and both domestic and international flights in Greece are expected to be canceled on February 28. (emergency air transportation is allowed)

On Saturday night, U.S. and British forces carried out a large-scale round of airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, hoping to degrade the group's anti-ship capabilities. At about 2350 hours local time, U.S. and British forces launched an attack on 18 separate targets in Houth-controlled areas of Yemen. Earlier Saturday evening, Houthi forces launched a single ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden. The likely target was a U.S.-flag vessel, the tanker Torm Thor, according to U.S. forces. The USS Mason shot the projectile down before it could cause any harm, and no damage or injuries were reported. The Iranian spy ship Behshad, which had been anchored a few miles northwest of the same jetty in Djibouti, has returned to station in the Gulf of Aden. The Behshad is believed to play a key role in Houthi target identification and tracking, and its movements have often aligned with the pattern of Houthi attacks

Water levels in the Gatun Lake – the man-made reservoir which dictates the navigability of the Panama Canal – are again sinking below the 80ft (24.3 metre) threshold and looking set to pass the record low levels seen last year. The Panama Canal Authority does not make projections past April, but if established trends hold this year, levels toward mid-2024 will fall well below last year’s record lows, and could reach as low as 78ft – forcing surcharges of some 6.5%. Meanwhile, data from the port of Manaus shows the water level of the Rio Negro, one of the two main waterways which merge to form the Amazon, had reached 12.7m, down from 18-20m. The Amazon may not recover fully until 2026, according to some projections.

Several labor unions, both public and private, went on a general strike across Italy on February 23, demanding an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict and strengthening workplace safety. It is expected to affect public transportation, schools, government offices, and factories on February 23, and the Trenod railway service in the northern Lombardia area around Milan will also be suspended. Depending on the region and union, the impact of the strike is expected to vary.

Over 1,000 workers at the Port of Port-of-Spain went on strike, causing significant disruptions and gridlock traffic due to disagreements over wage increases and health and safety concerns. The strike was in response to the government's refusal to honor a previously agreed 12% wage increase, leading to frustration among workers. Despite the disruptions, ferry sailings were not affected, though cargo operations were disrupted due to absenteeism by equipment operators. The Port Authority expects operations to resume fully soon, while the workers' union has given management a deadline to address their issues positively

Railway controllers under the Sud-Rail labor union are scheduled to strike nationwide from 11:00 on February 23 to 23:00 on February 24, demanding a wage increase. Railroad controller manages railroad operation such as operation monitoring, schedule management/adjustment, etc. It is expected that there will be delays and interruptions in TGV and other national/local railway operations.

Heavy rains triggered landslides in Dalwas, Mehad Cafeteria, Chamalwas, Shalgadi and Gangroo. Banihal town along the highway received 83.6 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending 8.30 am Tuesday, a meteorological department spokesman said. The Jammu-Srinagar Highway was closed for a second day due to landslides in Ramban district, affecting over a dozen places. This situation also led to the cancellation of 23 flights at Srinagar International Airport, attributed to adverse weather conditions and low visibility.

The railway union of La Fraternidad Union staged a 24-hour strike on a national scale on February 21 after negotiations to raise salaries and improve working conditions broke down. Both passenger and freight trains will be suspended.

A United Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles was diverted to Chicago O'Hare International Airport following a bomb scare prompted by a note found in the plane's bathroom. The plane landed safely, and passengers were evacuated. A bomb-sniffing K-9 unit identified a suspicious bag, which was then moved by a robot. The incident is under investigation, with police questioning the passenger who checked the suspicious bag. The FBI stated there was no imminent threat to public safety.

Ver.di, a service union, urged Lufthansa ground staff to strike with the aim of raising salaries. Strike period is from Feb 20 04 a.m. to Feb 21 07 a.m. and, ground services at Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Stuttgart airports are included in the strike, which could affect not only Lufthansa but also affiliates or Star Alliance partner airlines.