The majority of shipping in and out of Burnie and Devonport is unlikely to be affected by industrial action currently being undertaken by marine pilots employed by TasPorts.
Pilots went on strike on Friday after negotiations over a pay increase broke down, refusing to work at night and banning communications with agents and schedulers.
However, regular port users have a pilot-exemption due to their skippers having the same level of familiarity of local conditions as TasPorts pilots.
Ships included in the exemption include the Spirits of Tasmania and Searoad vessels using Devonport as well as the John Duigan Devonport to King Island service, along with the Strait Link ships servicing Burnie.
The pilot’s industrial action also excludes ships carrying petroleum, livestock, or medical supplies.
International cruise ships visiting Burnie are also expected to be largely unaffected by the industrial action as they generally arrive and depart during daylight hours.
The next cruise ship due in Burnie is Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, with 2770 passengers and 1,160 crew, scheduled to drop anchor in Burnie on Thursday.
