Europe’s Busiest Port Grinds to a Halt
What started as a 48-hour strike in the Port of Rotterdam has now turned into an open-ended standoff, freezing container operations at Europe’s busiest gateway. Around 700 lashers from International Lashing Services and Matrans Marine Services downed tools after wage talks collapsed. Their union, FNV, is holding firm on a 7% pay demand, while employers have only offered 5%.
Without lashers, containers can’t be safely secured on vessels—a non-negotiable safety rule that has effectively paralyzed all major terminals, including APM Terminals, Hutchison Ports ECT, and Rotterdam World Gateway. By Thursday morning, at least 13 ships were anchored outside the port waiting for berth access, and more are expected.
One terminal operator described the situation as “like having all the cranes but none of the hands.” The stoppage has disrupted both loading and discharge operations, leading to a mounting queue of ships and ripple effects that stretch far inland.
Logistics Chain Under Strain
The consequences are immediate and far-reaching. Truckers, barge operators, and warehouse planners are already feeling the knock-on delays. While terminal operators aren’t directly involved in the wage talks, they’re bearing the brunt of the paralysis.
Deltalinqs, the influential business association representing Rotterdam’s port industries, has warned of “severe consequences for national supply chains,” noting the port’s vital role in moving food, medicines, and construction materials across the Netherlands and beyond. The Port of Rotterdam Authority has urged all sides to resume negotiations, acknowledging that every hour of downtime compounds congestion across Europe’s trade routes.
Antwerp Pilot Strike Adds Fuel to the Fire
Just 100 kilometers south, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges faces its own disruption. Since October 5, Flemish harbor pilots have limited their work to office hours in protest against planned pension reforms. What began as a slowdown has now effectively halved vessel movements, with reports of more than 100 ships waiting offshore.
The port authority confirmed that throughput has dropped sharply and warned that yard utilization is nearing critical levels. Carriers are scrambling to reroute ships or delay sailings, a logistical nightmare reminiscent of the pandemic-era congestion.
“Every day we lose control of the schedule, it takes three to recover,” a regional shipping agent told Maritime Executive, summing up the frustration felt across the industry.
Activists and Security Concerns Add to the Tension
Adding another layer of disruption, environmental group GeefTegengas has staged blockades at several Rotterdam terminals, promising a mass protest on Saturday, October 11. Hundreds are expected to join, aiming to halt freight traffic entirely. Security officials are bracing for possible overlap with other demonstrations linked to the Gaza conflict, heightening concerns over safety and further delays.
Industry Braces for Prolonged Paralysis
With lashers off the job, pilots limiting operations, and activists at the gates, northern Europe’s logistics engine is sputtering. Carriers are already diverting ships to alternative ports such as Hamburg and Bremerhaven, but capacity there is limited. For now, Rotterdam and Antwerp—normally the arteries of European trade—are running on fumes.
