Strike Suspended at Belgian Ports, Traffic Resumes
Maritime pilot strike halted at Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Ghent, allowing over 200 ships to process after days of delays over pension reforms
Port operations in Belgium returned to normal on Wednesday morning following the temporary suspension of a maritime pilot strike at the major ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Ghent. The industrial action, which began last Sunday, was in response to federal government pension reform plans. As the pilots resumed their duties, activities restarted for more than 200 ships that had been waiting to enter and process at the ports.
The suspension aims to break the deadlock between the pilots and the government of the Flemish Region. Pilots have given the regional authorities until October 24 to make concrete progress on agreements reached earlier in the summer, including a definitive pension plan for pilots to be finalized by the end of November. The strike, when combined with a nationwide strike on Tuesday, had caused major delays on the Scheldt River and the North Sea, with data from the Maritime and Coastal Services Agency indicating 210 ships still waiting as of Wednesday morning.
The Zandvliet traffic control center also resumed operations Wednesday, with agency officials stating they are working at full capacity to safely manage ship traffic. Additional precautions were implemented in collaboration with coastal guard partners to ensure safety in crowded anchorage zones. Ferry services in the Antwerp and East Flanders regions have also returned to normal schedules.
