Japan port tsunami damage
Unions have been unable to contact some port workers at Miyako and Shiogama Sendai terminals. In Miyako both the union and company rooms have been swept away and most of the seawall is under water. In Shiogama Sendai container terminal (see photo) phones and internet are still down, the wharves are annihilated and containers scattered around the yard. The union has been unable to confirm the safety of dockworkers.
In Hitachi Hitachinaka dockworkers are reported to be safe, but the wharf was annihilated and cars for export on fire.
Similarly in Kashima Port the union reports no lives loss, but the company headquarters was swept away and containers carried out to sea.
The Japanese seafarers union, JSU and Zenkoku Kowan officers and staff and their immediate families are reportedly all safe.
International Transport Workers Federation Inspectorate Coordinator for Japan, Shoji Yamashita is maintaining regular contact with the Japanese Coast Guard monitoring vessels that were affected by the tidal wave.
He reports five ships grounded and four adrift.