On June 25th, nearly 50 vessels were delayed outside the Port of Antwerp due to a nationwide strike, as Antwerp’s pilots participated in the labor action.
As part of the nationwide strike in Belgium, pilot services were suspended. A spokesperson from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges mentioned that the disruption could cost the port millions of dollars.
By noon, the number of waiting vessels had increased to nearly 50, severely delaying cargo operations. There were 12 vessels departing and 16 arriving that morning, and by midday, this number had grown, severely impacting the flow of goods.
The strike is expected to end on Thursday morning, but the Port Authority warned that it may take an additional two days to clear the backlog of shipments. The spokesperson noted, “Even with operations resuming, it will take at least a day or two to return to normal.”
This marks the fourth strike event at the Port of Antwerp in recent weeks. While the full impact is still unclear, the port estimates that the losses could reach millions of dollars, similar to previous strike days.
This nationwide strike, organized by Belgian trade unions, is in protest of government policies. Although the strike date was announced well in advance, the scale of the strike was not fully anticipated by the port.
Currently, the Port of Antwerp remains severely congested, with an average waiting time of 1.64 days for vessels over the past week. High yard utilization is affecting operational efficiency, and crane refurbishments are ongoing, with two machines expected to be out of operation until the end of the year.
Given the ongoing strike, further chaos is expected, potentially exacerbating existing challenges to shipping transportation and operational efficiency.
