Freight Forwarder Alert: Belgian Pilot Strikes Bring Antwerp-Bruges to a Standstill

The strike didn’t take the form of a complete shutdown but rather an “efficiency” or “punctuality” action — pilots working only during office hours (08:00–17:00).
The result, however, was nearly the same as a full stoppage.

By October 14, congestion had reached its peak:

• Antwerp: 96 inbound and 55 outbound vessels were waiting.
• Zeebrugge: Movements were restricted to daytime pilotage; large LNG ships were suspended.
• Overall: 91 ships were still waiting to enter or depart Flemish ports.

On the morning of October 15, the BvL announced a temporary suspension of its actions until October 24 at 07:30 a.m., allowing traffic to resume.
Even so, clearing the backlog of over 100 inbound vessels and 60 outbound ones is expected to take several days, with ongoing ripple effects for inland haulage and container pickups.

Behind this immediate crisis lie long-standing structural issues in the Flemish pilotage system.

• Fragmentation: Roughly 340 pilots are divided into four corps (sea, coastal, canal, and river) and represented by six unions and associations — often with differing priorities.
• Management Gaps: This structure gives individual pilots significant autonomy, making it difficult to maintain consistent operations and leading to pilot shortages.
• Unbalanced Leverage: Because of their critical role in port access, pilots have the ability to halt operations across Europe’s second-largest port hub — an enormous economic risk for the region.
• Calls for Reform: The government and port operators are now discussing a reform model similar to the Dutch system, where privatized pilotage has prevented strikes and stabilized service continuity.

The Belgian strikes have intensified a wave of industrial tension across Europe’s North Range ports.
Just as the pilots’ action hit Antwerp-Bruges, a 48-hour strike at Rotterdam — led by Dutch lashers demanding higher wages — suspended all container loading and unloading.

With both ports under strain, carriers like Maersk have reported serious knock-on effects, including extended vessel laytime and cascading delays.
Combined with ongoing uncertainties in the Red Sea shipping corridor, the situation highlights how fragile global logistics flows remain.

With port operations gradually resuming, freight forwarders are now in the crucial phase of managing backlogs, resetting schedules, and minimizing downstream disruption. The best response lies in combining proactive planning with real-time visibility.

To start with, it’s essential to re-baseline ETAs using the latest carrier advisories and updates from port authorities. As vessels begin moving again, bunching and fluctuating berth availability are inevitable. Having up-to-date visibility allows logistics teams to make quick scheduling adjustments and prevent downstream congestion.

Next, forwarders should build buffer time into inland pickups and deliveries — ideally 24 to 48 hours after the expected vessel availability. This added margin helps absorb unexpected delays from re-handling, yard congestion, or customs bottlenecks, reducing the risk of demurrage or detention charges.

For time-sensitive cargo, such as reefer containers or chemicals, it’s advisable to confirm plug-point availability in advance and plan a staggered release once yard operations normalize. Prioritizing critical cargo ensures minimal product loss while easing congestion pressure on terminals.

When considering diversion options to nearby ports like Rotterdam, the decision should be guided by total dwell time and inland transit duration, not just visible congestion levels. In many cases, waiting for Antwerp’s clearance might still be more efficient than rerouting, depending on carrier schedules and lock conditions.

Finally, for shipments moving through Zeebrugge, align pickup and delivery timings with the restricted office-hour pilotage schedule to avoid missed cutoffs and overnight holds.

These tactical adjustments — driven by accurate, real-time information — can make a significant difference. In times of disruption, maintaining visibility and proactive communication is what helps freight forwarders stay in control and deliver reliability when it matters most.

Events like these show how fast disruptions can escalate — and how critical real-time visibility is for managing them.

Having instant access to shipment statuses, carrier advisories, and inland schedules empowers freight forwarders to make informed decisions instead of reactive ones.
The faster you can see what’s changing, the faster you can adapt.

At Shipthis, our goal is to help logistics providers stay one step ahead — connecting every shipment, carrier, and customer through one transparent platform.