Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – All ship traffic at the Port of Antwerp is halted until tomorrow morning, Oct 15, 2025, due to a national strike and pilots’ action. Lennart Verstappen confirmed delays affecting vessels, logistics, and passenger services.
As VRT News reported, all ship traffic at the Port of Antwerp has been stopped until tomorrow morning, Oct 15, 2025. The suspension is caused by a lack of staff at the Zandvliet Traffic Control Centre during the national strike. Without enough operators, vessels cannot be guided safely on the Scheldt River.
“No shipping is possible for seagoing ships or inland barges,”
confirmed Lennart Verstappen, spokesperson for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
How is the national strike bringing Antwerp port traffic to a standstill?
According to officials, the Zandvliet Traffic Control Centre plays a central role in Antwerp’s maritime operations. It manages ship movements to the Deurganck Dock and the main container terminals. The centre is responsible for the lock schedule that controls entry between the Scheldt and the port’s inner docks.
Operators also guide vessels by radar and stay in contact with the Common Nautical Authority, which oversees navigation on the Scheldt between Belgium and the Netherlands. They mentioned that when the centre is understaffed, no vessels can move safely, even with support from Dutch pilots.
“There’s still some movement in the port itself, with ships moving from one berth to another for loading and unloading. But entering or leaving the port is not possible until tomorrow morning, for both seagoing and inland vessels,”
says Lennart Verstappen.
“The consequences are significant, also for the logistics and transport sector.”
Lennart Verstappen, spokesperson for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
The national strike has added more disruption to the Port of Antwerp, which is still facing problems from the pilots’ action that has been going on for about 10 days.
“This has major consequences, including operational ones,”
said Lennart Verstappen, spokesperson for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
“If ships cannot be loaded or unloaded, it affects the entire logistics and transport chain.”
Several ships are waiting outside the port or staying docked longer than planned. The delays are slowing down cargo handling, transport schedules, and delivery chains linked to international trade. The port authority is closely monitoring the situation as the disruption continues to affect both the shipping sector and connected industries.
The national strike is also restricting passenger transport on the Scheldt River. The Sint-Anna ferry in Antwerp is running with only one vessel instead of 2 between 6:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. The reduced service is causing longer waiting times for passengers and cyclists.
The Waterbus service is also operating with restrictions and will run only until 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2025. The stops at Kallo, Liefkenshoek, and Lillo are not being served during this period.
A similar disruption occurred in November 2022, when a national strike also halted activity at the Port of Antwerp. The action was part of a protest against rising living costs and high energy prices. During that strike, pilots stopped working, terminals were shut down, and cargo operations came to a halt. Ferry and Waterbus services on the Scheldt also ran with limited schedules.
