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Delays Mount Across Antwerp and Zeebrugge
A 24 hour strike by ACOD maritime pilots is causing growing disruption to vessel traffic in the Port of Antwerp Bruges, with shipping delays increasing as pilot availability remains severely constrained.
The industrial action began at 08:00 on June 5, creating an immediate shortage of Belgian maritime pilots and affecting both inbound and outbound vessel movements. Port authorities have been monitoring the situation closely as operational impacts continue to spread across Belgium’s two main maritime gateways.
By 19:00, the number of affected vessels had increased significantly. In Antwerp, 20 outbound vessels were waiting to depart while 17 inbound vessels remained without pilot assistance. Only Dutch pilots were reported to be operating, while the availability of Belgian pilots remained extremely limited.
In Zeebrugge, two inbound vessels and three outbound vessels had no pilotage planning in place by the evening update.
Coastal Services Restricted to Day Shifts
The disruption extends beyond the Scheldt estuary. Coastal pilots affiliated with ACOD are only working between 08:00 and 17:00, while other coastal pilots are not on duty. No additional pilot availability was expected before at least 07:00 the following morning.
For ship operators, the situation resembles a busy motorway where traffic lights suddenly stop functioning. Even a temporary interruption can quickly create queues that take much longer to clear than the duration of the original disruption.
Earlier in the day, Antwerp had already reported ten outbound vessels affected by the strike. Three had been rescheduled with delays while seven remained unscheduled. On the inbound side, three vessels had been assigned delayed pilotage slots and eight were still awaiting planning.
Supply Chain Impact Under Watch
Port authorities warned that the impact on both Antwerp and Zeebrugge is expected to continue increasing throughout the night, depending on the duration of the industrial action.
The pilot shortage raises concerns for container, breakbulk, project cargo and conventional shipping operators relying on timely vessel arrivals and departures through one of Europe’s most important logistics hubs.
Further updates are expected as authorities assess pilot availability and work to restore normal vessel traffic flows.
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