Congestion grows in Belgian ports as strikes drag on

More than 100 vessels are stranded in the Belgian ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge and in the North Sea as pilots have striked for five days.

IMAGE: Oil tanker moored at an oil terminal in the Port of Antwerp. Getty Images

Pilots at these ports are on strike and only providing service during daytime hours (08.00-17.00 local time), shipping firm A.P. Moller - Maersk said on its website.

Around 80 vessels bound for these Belgian ports are currently stranded in the North Sea, and 33 vessels are waiting to leave the ports, according to shipping agent VertomCory Antwerp.

Some 20 vessels with Dutch or Flemish pilots onboard have been the only vessels to sail, VertcomCory added.

Bunker operations in the ports are also expected to be affected because of the strike.

The strike was announced by pilot associations on 5 October as a protest against recent domestic federal pension reforms. No progess has yet been made in negotiations to end the dispute and the strike is expected to carry forward to next week.

Belgian unions have also announced a nationwide strike on Tuesday 14 October. VertcomCory said there is a risk that no vessel movements will be possible from Monday evening to Wednesday morning next week.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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