By Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

ATHENS, June 7 (Reuters) – Greek cruise ship operators are nervous of an enduring influence on the sector from an ongoing strike by port staff protesting towards the sale of the nation’s largest port Piraeus to Chinese transport big COSCO.

Greece in April agreed the sale of a 67 p.c stake in Piraeus Port to COSCO for 368.5 million euros beneath a 3rd worldwide bailout.

Port staff have held 48-hour rolling strikes since late May, disrupting cargo operations and companies offered to cruise ships docking at Piraeus over fears their jobs are in danger.

“We are very worried,” stated Theodoros Kontes, head of the Greek cruise ship homeowners affiliation. “If they keep striking, we are expecting a 10 million euro impact on our business in Piraeus only for June.”

Greece had income of 560 million euros from about 2.5 million cruise ship passengers final yr and the sector has been rising since May after cruise strains shunned Turkey and Egypt for Greece, as a result of security issues.

But Kontes stated he was involved that this optimistic development might be reversed after two cruise ships left Piraeus over the weekend to dock at different ports in Greece and Italy because of the port staff’ labour motion.

“If the strike continues and many companies perceive the situation unpredictable, there is a risk that they dock elsewhere, or even make more permanent changes to their schedule,” stated Giorgios Paliouras, a member of the board of the Greek journey brokers affiliation.

Port staff need COSCO to safeguard jobs for a minimal variety of folks, with present labour contracts, as a part of a concession settlement to be signed later this yr.

“Renewing the 48-hour strikes is what we have in mind,” stated George Georgakopoulos, the dock staff union director. “We recognise there is an inconvenience for passengers and that is why we ask the government to resolve the matter the soonest.”

The Greek authorities referred to as on staff on Monday to cease strike motion and assist discover a real looking and viable resolution. (Editing by Angeliki Koutantou and David Evans)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.