A national strike halted shipping operations across Belgium on Tuesday, November 25, as unions escalated protests against the government’s austerity budget. All major seaports and inland waterways were disrupted, with hundreds of vessels delayed.
Pilot boat operators at Vlissingen walked out, making it impossible for Flemish pilots to board or guide seagoing vessels. Traffic along the Scheldt stopped. Arrivals and departures at Antwerp and Ghent were suspended. Soon after, the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre joined the action, blocking the port entirely.
Port authorities said internal movements and lock operations were still possible. Yet by Tuesday evening, 63 seagoing vessels were unable to enter or leave Antwerp, Ghent, and Zeebrugge. Twenty-two ships were stuck inside Antwerp. Twenty-seven more were waiting offshore.
In Wallonia, protesters blocked key locks and bridges. Up to 100 inland cargo vessels were forced to stop along the river network.
The Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority said pilotage and traffic control were expected to resume at 07:30 on Wednesday. Unions, however, expect widespread blockades of industrial zones, logistics hubs, and transport corridors.
Shipping lines warned customers of unpredictable loading, handling, and discharge delays. Port officials also warned of a growing backlog that could take days to clear.
