Severe congestion at Belgian ports as pilots stop striking

More than 200 ships were awaiting pilotage to move to and from Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge this afternoon local time, shipping agent VertomCory Antwerp said.

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

Shipping traffic resumed this morning after being suspended by a nationwide strike since Monday evening. Pilot associations have now announced they will halt their strike until 24 October.

But the backlog caused by the strike may take several days to clear, VertomCory said.

Bunker planning has also been complicated by the limited number of pilots, and delivery delays are expected, sources told ENGINE.

According to the latest update, 141 vessels are waiting in the North Sea, with 135 of them bound for Antwerp alone, VertomCory said. In Antwerp, around 60 vessels are waiting to leave the port, while seven vessels are waiting in Ghent, the shipping agent added.

Meanwhile, 58 vessels are moving to or from Belgian ports, with either a Flemish or Dutch pilot on board.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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