Backlog and delays persist at the Port of Antwerp as pilots maintain "maximum rest" actions
The pilots in the Port of Antwerp Bruges in Belgium have temporarily suspended actions against federal pension reforms. The protests started on October 5, but they’re only the last wave of worker manifestations after the government announcements last winter.
"As of this morning (October 15), vessels are again scheduled to arrive and depart," reported Port of Antwerp.
The suspension benefits the entire logistics chain in the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge and will remain in effect until 07:30 a.m. on October 24 to allow for negotiations between the workers and the Flemish government.
Port pilots are essential workers in the maritime point of entry, as they are in charge of boarding vessels and guiding them safely in and out of the quay.
The Port of Antwerp is now fully operational
The Port of Antwerp reported that operations have been resuming normally and the administration expects a gradual improvement in service, "although the availability of the different pilot corps will likely not be fully known until late afternoon."
Currently, more than 60 vessels are waiting to depart, and around 100 are waiting to enter the port. "It is too early to estimate how quickly the situation will improve; clearing the backlog will take several days," the port authority said.
Since early October, professional associations (AvK, BvL, and OVL) and unions (ACOD, ACV, and VSOA) representing port pilots have jointly carried out a series of actions, which have cost the logistics chain millions of euros.
"After ten days of action, the Flemish government is granted a ten-day reprieve, until October 24, to demonstrate that it is willing to comply with the agreement reached on June 2 and, through arbitration, achieve a final agreement by the end of November at the latest," said the professional associations and unions in a statement issued on Tuesday evening, October 14.
* All images courtesy of the Port of Antwerp Bruges
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