The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada is calling on the federal government to come up with financial assistance for Oceanex to keep supply vessels operating in and out of St. John’s.
However, yet another player in the supply chain assures that they are ready to take up the slack—subsidy-free.
The union says a tie-up of Oceanex vessels would result in hundreds of job losses to seafarers and would leave a large amount of food and other vital supplies undelivered.
Steve Bilas, a spokesman for TMSI—a marine company that transfers goods between Halifax and Argentia—says they are ready, able, and willing to step in.
Bilas believes it’s important that consumers know there are other options out there.
The trucking industry echoed the sentiments of TMSI that the supply chain is solid with or without Oceanex.
However, SIU Canada Vice President Patrice Caron says Oceanex has maintained “impeccable service” to Newfoundland for over 100 years, even against what he calls unfair competition—a reference to federally-subsidized Marine Atlantic.
He says the federal government “must step up and ensure” the service supplied by Oceanex survives.
The Atlantic Provinces Truckers Association says they have been hauling goods to Newfoundland and Labrador for 100 years and there has never been a shortage.