Crisis update: disruption due to national strike day 12 March in Port News 14/03/2026 Another national strike day will take place on 12 March. Disruption is expected this week in the port of Antwerp-Bruges. We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you informed of the latest information via this page. Antwerp – 13/03/2026 – 08:30 The entire nautical chain to Antwerp is operational and all locks (except those under scheduled maintenance) and tugboats are available. At 07:00, congestion amounts to 27 inbound vessels waiting without a prospect of entry and 8 inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. On the outbound side, 9 vessels are waiting without a prospect of departure and 15 vessels are planned or already underway. Zeebrugge – 13/03/2026 – 08:30 Zeebrugge is fully operational. Current congestion amounts to 8 inbound and 3 outbound vessels. The main factor affecting the smooth flow of shipping traffic was the strong wind during the night. Wind conditions are expected to gradually ease towards midday. Antwerp – 12/03/2026 – 19:30 The entire nautical chain to Antwerp is operational again and all locks are available. There are 40 inbound vessels waiting without a prospect of entry and 13 inbound vessels that are planned or already underway. On the outbound side, 46 vessels are waiting without a prospect of departure and 4 vessels are planned or already underway. Zeebrugge – 12/03/2026 – 19:30 The nautical chain in Zeebrugge is operational again. The pilot cutter Wandelaar and the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre are operational, as is the Vandamme lock. The availability of coastal pilots, tugboats, dock pilots and boatmen is sufficient. Provided there are no additional issues (e.g. weather conditions), the situation is expected to return to normal within 24 hours. Current congestion amounts to 10 inbound and 4 outbound vessels. Antwerp – 12/03/2026 – 13:30 The harbour master’s service and SWATH vessels are partially staffed, allowing vessel traffic with Flemish pilots to and from Antwerp to resume. Shipping is being scheduled as efficiently as possible, taking into account nautical parameters, weather conditions and the available capacities within the chain. Zeebrugge – 12/03/2026 – 13:30 Shipping traffic has resumed and is operating at nearly full capacity. Antwerp – 12/03/2026 – 8:30 All chain partners are operational, with the exception of the shipping service in Vlissingen. As a result, only vessels with a Dutch pilot can sail. The Zandvliet Lock, Kieldrecht Lock and Van Cauwelaert Lock are fully operational. The Kallo Lock is only available for inland navigation. The Boudewijn Lock and Berendrecht Lock are scheduled to be out of service due to maintenance works. There are 52 inbound vessels without prospects, 4 inbound vessels planned or sailing, 39 outbound vessels without prospects and 0 outbound vessels planned or sailing. Zeebrugge – 12/03/2026 – 8:30 The Wandelaar and the Zeebrugge traffic centre are operational. Pilot availability is minimal, so shipping is being scheduled as efficiently as possible based on availability and combined voyages. Pilot-exempt vessels can operate without restrictions. Tugboats, dock pilots, boatmen and the Vandamme Lock are operational. There are 13 inbound vessels and 6 outbound vessels impacted. Antwerp – 11/03/2026 – 20:00 Boat service in Vlissingen is still not operational, which means no Belgian pilots can be deployed for inbound and outbound sea-going traffic. Maritime traffic