According to Reuters, a planned strike in the port of Piraeus, Greece, this Monday  threatens to cause major problems a half dozen vessels scheduled to call in the port.   Piraeus is the main port for Athens and the point of embarkation and disembarkation for many ships sailing in Turkey and the Greek Isles.

If the seamen do strike as scheduled, ships will be unable to dock in the port;  if a ship is already in the port, it won’t be able to leave until the strike is over. Seamen are required to tie up the ship in port and operate gangways.   At least five cruise ships are expected to be in Piraeus on Monday.

Seamen are protesting the government’s plans to permit non-EU-flagged ships with non-Greek crew to moor at its ports and travel between Greek islands, in order to boost tourism.

Earlier this year cruise ships canceled port calls in Athens because a proposed strike would prevent passengers from embarking and disembarking.