2026-03-12
Another national strike day will take place on 12 March. Disruption is expected this week in the port of Antwerp-Bruges. We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you informed of the latest information via this page.
The entire nautical chain to Antwerp is operational and all locks (except those under scheduled maintenance) and tugboats are available. At 07:00, congestion amounts to 27 inbound vessels waiting without a prospect of entry and 8 inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. On the outbound side, 9 vessels are waiting without a prospect of departure and 15 vessels are planned or already underway.
Zeebrugge is fully operational. Current congestion amounts to 8 inbound and 3 outbound vessels. The main factor affecting the smooth flow of shipping traffic was the strong wind during the night. Wind conditions are expected to gradually ease towards midday.
The entire nautical chain to Antwerp is operational again and all locks are available. There are 40 inbound vessels waiting without a prospect of entry and 13 inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. On the outbound side, 46 vessels are waiting without a prospect of departure and 4 vessels are planned or already underway.
The nautical chain in Zeebrugge is operational again. The pilot cutter Wandelaar and the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre are operational, as is the Vandamme lock. The availability of coastal pilots, tugboats, dock pilots and boatmen is sufficient. Provided there are no additional issues (e.g. weather conditions), the situation is expected to return to normal within 24 hours. Current congestion amounts to 10 inbound and 4 outbound vessels.
The harbour master’s service and SWATH vessels are partially staffed, allowing vessel traffic with Flemish pilots to and from Antwerp to resume. Shipping is being scheduled as efficiently as possible, taking into account nautical parameters, weather conditions and the available capacities within the chain.
Shipping traffic has resumed and is operating at nearly full capacity.
All chain partners are operational, with the exception of the shipping service in Vlissingen. As a result, only vessels with a Dutch pilot can sail. The Zandvliet Lock, Kieldrecht Lock and Van Cauwelaert Lock are fully operational. The Kallo Lock is only available for inland navigation. The Boudewijn Lock and Berendrecht Lock are scheduled to be out of service due to maintenance works. There are 52 inbound vessels without prospects, 4 inbound vessels planned or sailing, 39 outbound vessels without prospects and 0 outbound vessels planned or sailing.
The Wandelaar and the Zeebrugge traffic centre are operational. Pilot availability is minimal, so shipping is being scheduled as efficiently as possible based on availability and combined voyages. Pilot-exempt vessels can operate without restrictions. Tugboats, dock pilots, boatmen and the Vandamme Lock are operational. There are 13 inbound vessels and 6 outbound vessels impacted.
Boat service in Vlissingen is still not operational, which means no Belgian pilots can be deployed for inbound and outbound sea-going traffic. Maritime traffic is therefore only possible with Dutch pilots.
All locks and tugboats in the port are available and ship movements within the docks can continue. Currently, 50 inbound vessels and 39 outbound vessels are waiting for Antwerp.
A very mimited number of Flemish pilots are available. Tender swaths are on strike. Ship movements are planned as efficiently as possible.
Pierre Vandamme lock, tug boats and boat men are available. Pilot-exempt vessels can enter and leave the port.
Currently, 15 inbound vessels and 9 outbound vessels are waiting for Zeebrugge.
The Wandelaar Pilot Station (LKW) and the Zandvliet Traffic Centre are operational again. However, the boat service in Vlissingen is currently not operational, which means Belgian pilots cannot currently be deployed for inbound and outbound sea-going traffic. Maritime traffic is therefore only possible with Dutch pilots.
The locks in the port remain available and ship movements within the docks can continue. Inland navigation can also sail upstream and downstream on the Scheldt again. Currently, 50 inbound vessels and 33 outbound vessels are waiting for Antwerp.
The Zeebrugge Traffic Centre is operational again, but part of the Flemish pilots are still taking industrial action. As a result, there are currently no pilots available for inbound and outbound traffic in Zeebrugge. Pilot-exempt vessels can enter and leave the port again.
Currently, 16 inbound vessels and 7 outbound vessels are waiting for Zeebrugge.
For Antwerp, 33 inbound vessels are currently waiting without a prospect of entry. In addition, 2 inbound vessels are planned or already underway. On the outbound side, 18 vessels are waiting without a prospect of departure, while no outbound vessels are currently planned or underway.
For Zeebrugge, 18 inbound vessels are currently waiting, including one LNG carrier (Limail). In addition, four vessels have been cancelled. On the outbound side, six vessels are waiting to leave the port.
From 10 March at 19:30, inbound and outbound traffic for seagoing and inland vessels via the Scheldt is fully suspended due to an additional trade union action at the Zandvliet Traffic Centre. The locks remain available and vessel movements within the docks remain possible.
Since 9 March at 19:30, inbound and outbound traffic for all shipping has been suspended due to a trade union action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre. Vessel movements within the port area remain possible and the PVD lock remains operational. The Boudewijn lock also remains operational and inland navigation can continue to pass there.
The obstruction via the Wandelaar pilot station (LKW), resulting from the action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre, is ongoing. In addition, part of the Flemish pilots are also taking action. Sea-going vessels can only enter and leave via the North pilot station (LKN) with Dutch pilots.
The impact for Antwerp is currently estimated at 21 inbound vessels without a prospect of transit and 2 inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. For outbound traffic, 18 vessels have no prospect of departure and 3 vessels are planned or already underway
All inbound and outbound traffic for shipping remains fully suspended due to the trade union action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre. Vessel movements within the port area remain possible and the PVD lock remains operational. The impact for Zeebrugge is currently estimated at 13 inbound and 6 outbound vessels.
From Monday 9 March at 19:30, inbound and outbound traffic for seagoing vessels via the Wandelaar Pilot Station (LKW) is suspended due to a trade union action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre. Vessel movements are only possible via the North Pilot Station (LKN), without using the Westrond route. The impact for Antwerp is estimated until tomorrow morning 08:00 at 10 outbound vessels and 12 inbound vessels.
From Monday 9 March at 19:30, inbound and outbound traffic for all shipping is suspended due to a trade union action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre. Vessel movements within the port area remain possible and the PVD lock remains operational. The impact for Zeebrugge is estimated until tomorrow morning 08:00 at 6 inbound vessels and 15 outbound vessels.
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