Maritime operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges have been halted due to Flemish pilots participating in a national strike over federal pension and labor reforms. The strike, initiated by trade unions, has led to the suspension of both seagoing and inland navigation to and from the port since Monday evening, with a complete halt expected until October 15. The port authority reported that while towing services are functioning at 90% capacity, operations are severely impacted, especially at the Zandvliet sector where pilots are not operational.
As of October 13, the port’s traffic control center has coordinated the suspension of maritime activities, which began at 7:30 PM on October 13. Preparations for this suspension started earlier that day, resulting in a gradual stop of vessel movements. During this period, no vessels are permitted to pass through the locks towards the Scheldt River, exacerbating delays with 76 inbound and 34 outbound vessels currently registered.
Despite the disruptions at Antwerp, operations at the nearby Zeebrugge port continue, albeit with limited pilotage hours under similar work-to-rule conditions. Vessel movements and traffic control are proceeding normally there, with only minor congestion reported. The Port of Antwerp has faced increasing operational challenges since October 5, when pilots began their protest actions, leading to significant delays and scheduling issues for numerous ships. Further updates on the situation will be provided as the port authority evaluates the ongoing impact of the strike.
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