The cruise ship MSC Orchestra was prevented from entering the port of Marseille today after protesting sailors blocked access to the harbor entrance as part of a labor action.

According to French media reports, the vessel, arriving from Barcelona, was forced to remain offshore while the demonstration continued. A spokesperson for the Port of Marseille confirmed that the ship, which can accommodate more than 3,200 passengers, was still awaiting authorization to enter the port as the situation remained unresolved.

The protest is linked to broader labor disputes in France’s maritime sector. Companies including Corsica Linea and La Méridionale have been placed in the crosshairs of the demonstrators, who accuse operators of failing to fully comply with French labor and maritime regulations.

The CGT union, which is backing the action, is calling on the government to intervene and ensure that these companies respect national laws, particularly concerning employment conditions and the use of the French shipping flag. Union representatives argue that current practices create unfair competition and weaken protections for French maritime workers.

French outlets, citing an Agence France-Presse (AFP) dispatch, report that the protest is part of wider efforts by maritime workers to defend domestic shipping standards and working conditions.

At the time of publication, port authorities had not indicated when MSC Orchestra would be cleared to dock or whether further cruise schedules would be affected by the ongoing protest.