Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Re:  France - Strike Update Strike dates and times for this week: From 10 pm Wednesday, July 2nd, to 6 am Thursday, July 3rd From 6 am Thursday, July 3rd, to 6 am Friday, July 4th From 3 pm Saturday, July 5th, to 3 pm Sunday, July 6th These strike days and times are likely to be the same next week. Additionally, the afternoon shift in Fos on Friday, July 4th, will not be worked as Union members will be attending a General Assembly meeting to discuss future action. From Fos, the only major carrier still accepting bookings is Zim Lines. CMA-CGM, Evergreen and Hapag have all stopped taking bookings on most of their services. CMA-CGM's U.S. service will stop calling Fos from mid-August and will be reorganized, probably putting in place a feeder vessel instead of the mother vessel. Le Havre is less effected by the strike action than Fos/Mer. Evergreen is no longer calling this port, however, shipments to the U.S. West Coast in particular are badly effected with little availability before August. As the summer season kicks in, vessels are full, the port is congested, and equipment availability is scarce particularly at inland depots and for 20' reefers. As previously reported, Antwerp is also suffering from congestion due to the increased volumes from France. Regards, North American Shippers Association