Maritime Union of Australia have orchestrated a mass protest from its waterside workers against what they claim are unsafe conditions at wharves around Australia.

In Melbourne, a funeral is being held today for wharfie Steve Piper, who was killed in a workplace accident this month.

Subsequently, a series of memorial services are being held around the country in sympathy for Mr Piper's family and to raise safety concerns.

Waterside workers from about six companies at the Port of Brisbane have already walked off the job.

Stevedores at Patricks, DP World and P&O are among those that started clocking off from 10.30am and will not return until tomorrow.

It means an unspecified number of containers cannot be unloaded but the union told The Courier-Mail perishables and medical supplies would not be held up.

All workers rostered on tomorrow are expected back at work.

The Port of Townsville is the other Queensland port affected but the impact on freight is yet to be known.

All major ports across Australia have effectively come to a standstill, or close to it.

Port of Brisbane refused to comment on the impact of today's walkout.

MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said today was not a strike, but a chance for traumatised workers to voluntarily pay their respect.

"We've had three deaths in five months," he said.

"We haven't lost three wharfies in a year for 20 to 30 years.

"It will have an impact but they'll be back tomorrow."

MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said "a couple of hundred" workers were expected to a attend the Brisbane memorial service at 2pm at Wynnum Manly Juniors, Wynnum.

Meanwhile, Australia's largest stevedores, Patricks, is already counting the costs of today's interruption.

The Courier-Mail understands the company, unable to load and unload containers for its customers, is considering court action next week to redress the issue.

"Currently all import and export operations ceased at 10.30am," she said.

"It's having an extensive impact however we are understanding of the issue of safety.

"Safety is an important issue."

Patricks' operations at Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Freemantle remain shut.

source: James O'Loan | The Courier-Mail