Antwerp Clears Backlog Following Strike

Seventy vessels were cleared from the Belgian port.

Belgian port workers ended a strike that crippled operations at Belgian ports for the majority of last week. Operators at the Port of Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Ghent worked to clear vessels that were waiting to enter or exit the ports.

As the largest of Belgium ports, Antwerp had a backlog of approximately 70 vessels, a port spokesperson told reporters. Normal operations resume over the weekend.

Officials at Ghent said they needed two days to clear 29 waiting vessels, while Zeebrugge cleared its backlog by Friday evening.

Trade unions and regional authorities announced that pension plans and the piloting profession will be reassessed over the next weeks, which brought the four-day strike to an end.
 
Photo shows tug at work at the Port of Antwerp. Courtesy of Panoramio.