The German union Ver.di plans to launch a widespread and escalating strike in northern Germany this week, during which the Kiel Canal will be closed, and parts of the Hamburg Port will also be affected. Officials warn that even after the three-day strike ends, lasting impacts and delays are expected.

The Kiel Canal, a crucial waterway for short-sea and feeder shipping in the Baltic Sea region, is scheduled to close on the evening of March 10 (Monday) and will remain closed during the day shift on March 13 (Thursday). The canal has ordered the clearance of ships, and new vessels will not be allowed to enter the canal for most of Monday to provide time for ship clearance. The locks at both ends of the canal are planned to close at 22:00 on Monday night.

A Ver.di spokesperson warned, "No ships will be able to enter or exit." Additionally, the spokesperson said, "Ver.di has called on employees of the waterways and shipping offices to participate in a warning strike so that the federal government can also feel the impact of the strike."

The so-called warning strike is a short-term, limited action taken by the union under German law. This is done to draw attention to their cause, which is the contract negotiations for public service employees. In announcing the strike, the union expressed regret that no proposals were made before the negotiations. The next round of contract negotiations is scheduled for March 14 to 16.

The union stated that they hope the terms of the new contract will help increase the attractiveness of public sector work, address staff shortages, and alleviate the burden on employees. Ver.di is demanding a total pay increase of 8%, but at least 350 euros per month. They are also calling for higher bonuses for stressful shift work, an additional three days of rest, and the creation of a new type of "my time account" to give employees more time autonomy.

The new round of strikes began over the weekend, with strikes also taking place at all 13 major airports in the country.

The Kiel Canal bills itself as "the world's busiest artificial waterway." It provides a direct route between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, reducing the voyage by 260 nautical miles, equivalent to saving 14 to 18 hours of transport time. The canal is about 50 nautical miles long and takes 6 to 8 hours to pass through. Ships will either wait for it to reopen or detour around Denmark on crowded sea routes.

After reopening, significant delays are expected for all westbound and eastbound traffic to the Kiel Canal. The ship agency and logistics company GAC Group warned customers, "The duration of congestion is unpredictable, as it will depend on the number of ships waiting to transit."

The local branch of Ver.di has called on Hamburg Port employees to participate in this week's action. The port has already issued warnings of expected delays, noting that one out of every three containers handled by Hamburg passes through the canal.