One of Australia’s biggest tugboat companies will indefinitely lock out nearly 600 of their workforce on Friday at 12pm over a ongoing, bitter industrial dispute.

The lockout threatens major disruption at ports across five states, jeopardising deliveries to businesses and consumers in the lead-up to Christmas.

Svitzer ensures shipping vessels carrying grain, commercial food produce and oil arrive on-land at 17 ports nationally, including in Brisbane, Cairns, Lucinda and Mourilyan.

The protracted dispute over the enterprise agreement has seen 1100 strikes since late 2020, equating to more than 2000 hours of stoppages.

Earlier today, Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said on 2GB Radio he was “devastated” by how the dispute had unfolded and urged the company to consider pausing their lockout.

Svitzer Australia’s managing director Nicolaj Noes admitted on Brisbane Live he wasn’t sure how long the lockout will drag on, but said it was a last resort.

“Genuinely, this was not an easy decision, and we are genuinely also sorry about the impact it has on the wider community in Queensland,” he told Neil Breen.

“As you can imagine, when you come to a decision like this, it’s only really when you are backed up into a corner with no other alternatives.

“We have faced industrial action now … for months, more than 1000 actions have been ongoing.”

The company is hoping the lock out will be a “wake-up call” to unions and staff.

Press PLAY below to hear him explain the company’s perspective