Major disruptions take over the Port of Antwerp-Bruges ahead of a new national strike 

Lee esta noticia en Español | LATEST UPDATE: Wednesday, March 12, at 11:10 AM EST

A new national strike has been announced in Belgium for March 12, but workers at the maritime Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of the most important points of entry into the European market,  have begun actions in advance. 

Sea pilots, essential workers in charge of boarding vessels and guiding them safely in and out of the quay, have starred in trade union action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre, fully suspending all inbound and outbound traffic for shipping on March 9 and 10. 

The port authority is also reporting ongoing obstruction at the Wandelaar pilot station (LKW). As a result, sea-going vessels can only enter and leave via the North pilot station with Dutch pilots, as part of the Flemish fleet is also taking part in the strike actions.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges braces for a new national strike

During the first hours and days of the stoppage, the port authority at Antwerp-Bruges reported 21 inbound vessels with no clear transit prospect, and two inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. 

For outbound traffic, the port authority is reporting 18 vessels with no departure prospects, and three vessels with planned transit plans or already underway.

On its website, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges said it’s monitoring the situation closely and says it will provide updates as they occur. 

In the morning of March 11, the port authority reported that the Wandelaar Pilot Station (LKW) and the Zandvliet Traffic Centre have resumed operations. 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," read the authority's notice. 

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 also resumed operations, but, as with LKW, Flemish pilots continue to take 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.

March 12 update

In Antwerp, all partners in the logistics chain remain operational except the pilotage service in Vlissingen. As a result, only ships with a Dutch pilot can sail, the port reported.

The disruption has created a backlog of vessels. Current figures show 52 incoming ships with no prospect of movement and four incoming ships scheduled or sailing. On the outbound side, 39 ships have no prospect of movement, while no outgoing ships are currently scheduled or sailing.

Despite the pilot shortage, several major locks serving the port continue to operate. The Zandvliet, Kieldrecht, and Van Cauwelaert locks are fully operational.

However, the Kallo lock remains available only for inland navigation, while the Boudewijn and Berendrecht locks are scheduled to be out of service for maintenance.

In Zeebrugge, both the Wandelaar and Zeebrugge traffic centers remain operational. The maritime terminal reported that pilot availability is minimal, prompting operators to schedule vessel movements as efficiently as possible based on available crews and through combined pilotage trips.

Ships that are exempt from pilotage continue to operate without restrictions. Port services supporting vessel movements remain active, including tugboats, dock pilots, mooring crews, and the Vandamme lock.

According to the port, the situation currently affects 13 incoming ships and six outgoing ships in Zeebrugge.

A new national strike

The current stoppage at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is part of an ongoing years-long conflict between the maritime unions and the Belgian government over austerity initiatives presented by the latter.

Worker organizations, including pilots and traffic control stations, firmly oppose government proposals that they claim will cut pensions by up to 25 percent.

In the last year, the conflict has led to several actions, including a strike in April 2025, a weaponized operation compliance action, and a national strike in November. The unions are requesting a unified pension system, as well as better conditions for new workers 

This is a developing story… 

*All images courtesy of Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Related stories

Port of Antwerp-Bruges sets new reefer record in 2025, driven by 14 percent jump in imports