A general strike by all major Belgian unions on 14 October — including ongoing industrial action by pilots’ associations — has significantly disrupted vessel movements across the country’s key ports.
At present, there is no resolution in sight between unions and the government, and operational constraints remain unchanged. Pilots continue to provide services only during daytime hours, from 09:00 to 17:00.
As a result, congestion is building. A total of 129 vessels are currently waiting:
- Antwerp: 36 vessels waiting to depart
- Zeebrugge: 5 vessels waiting to depart
- Ghent: 4 vessels waiting to depart
- North Sea anchorage: 84 vessels waiting — 64 bound for Antwerp, 8 for Zeebrugge, and 12 for Ghent
Despite the disruption, 10 vessels are currently underway with Flemish or Dutch pilots on board, including 9 to/from Antwerp and 1 inbound to Ghent.
VesselTracker provides real-time visibility into port congestion and pilotage activity — helping you stay ahead, even when operations slow down.
