Shipping activities at major Belgian ports have faced significant disruptions as sea pilots and maritime traffic controllers extended their strike on Tuesday. According to the Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (MDK), this protest has resulted in a slowdown of ship movements, with only essential safety personnel remaining on duty. Currently, 26 ships are anchored in the North Sea, while 18 vessels are delayed in Antwerp and Ghent. In Zeebrugge, four ships are waiting to depart, and eight are queued to enter the port.
The strike commenced on Monday when members of the socialist union ACOD initiated a protest at the Zeebrugge radar tower, which oversees maritime traffic. Sea pilots joined the action at midnight. As a result, approximately 45 ships traveling to or from Antwerp and 26 in Zeebrugge are experiencing delays.
The core issue driving the strike revolves around proposed pension reforms. Maritime workers and unions argue that the federal changes could lead to a 25% reduction in pensions for those in the sector compared to previous arrangements. Negotiations on this matter have been ongoing for over a year.
Despite the ongoing strike, authorities assure that safety remains a priority, with a minimum number of staff available to handle emergencies. The strike is anticipated to continue until 7:30 PM on Tuesday, with potential further disruptions to shipping traffic.
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