Shipping lines are warning of delays to cargo as another round of strike action brings container handling to a standstill at France's busiest container ports.

Port operations at Le Havre and Marseilles will be disrupted when members of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) stage weekend walk-outs in protest at French government plans to transfer some jobs to the private sector.

This follows strikes at ports across France earlier this week that disrupted container handling.

Maersk Line said: "While good progress has been made so far, the national negotiation on the French port reform is not finalised yet.

"However, as a new meeting between government and unions is expected next week, it is not certain that strikes will be maintained and we will keep [customers] regularly posted."

It added that some vessels were waiting outside Le Havre and Marseilles after being given a berthing window, while others had skipped the port.

Cargo on vessels diverted