On April 29, 2025, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges experienced significant operational disruptions due to a nationwide strike in Belgium. The strike severely impacted vessel traffic at both the Antwerp and Zeebrugge terminals, reports Container News.
Antwerp-Bruges grinds to a halt
In Antwerp, the port area came to a standstill, with 19 vessels waiting to depart and 20 waiting to enter. Despite the disruption, the port’s operational services remained largely functional. Lock operations were fully staffed, tug services operated at 90% capacity, and traffic control within the docks, as well as inland navigation at the Oosterweel works, continued uninterrupted.
The port authority anticipated that the disruption would persist until the morning of April 30. Afterwards, efforts would focus on clearing the backlog in a safe and efficient manner, a process expected to take one to two days. Meanwhile, operations in Zeebrugge continued, with vessel movements at the locks being coordinated through grouped entry and exit procedures.
The strike’s impact on one of Europe’s busiest ports underscores the vulnerability of global supply chains to labor actions and highlights the importance of contingency planning in port operations.
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Source: Container News
