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Protesting port workers and fishermen staged a one-day strike yesterday at the Fos-Lavera oil terminal near Marseille, causing disruption to shipping and bunkering activities.

Fishermen, who are demanding state aid to cushion the effect of surging marine fuel prices on profit margins, shut off roads leading to Fos-Lavera and also blockaded around 20 ports on the Channel, Mediterranean, and Atlantic seaboards as well as at least five fuel depots.

Meanwhile, port workers, angry over government plans to privatise part of the ports' activities, staged a one-day strike at Fos-Lavera, preventing 13 oil tankers from entering the port, according to port authorities.

A one-day strike is also expected to take place on 22nd May. France's national port union has called on workers to carry out a series of twenty-four hour strikes on a weekly basis as it continues its protest against the government's privatisation plans. The strike is expected to prevent bunker deliveries from taking place with barges unable to berth and load product at the oil terminal.

Disruption at Fos-Lavera since April 17 has already lead to a total financial loss of over EUR1 million according to recent estimates by the Port of Marseille Authority.