Almost 100 seagoing vessels are still waiting to resume operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges due to Tuesday's nationwide general strike, the port stated on Wednesday morning.
Tuesday's general strike completely paralysed the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as traffic control ceased its operations. On Tuesday night, shipping traffic resumed.
However, in the Antwerp port area, 59 ships are currently waiting to leave the port. In the North Sea, 33 ships are waiting to enter the Westerschelde to reach the port. The number of ships waiting has risen steadily since Monday evening.
"The nautical chain restarted during the night," the Port Authority said on Wednesday. "Six seagoing vessels are now sailing on the Scheldt towards Antwerp. All locks have been filled in preparation for the resumption of outgoing traffic at the end of the imposed closure."
Inland vessels were also anchored on Tuesday. According to the Port Authority, all available lock capacity is now being offered to inland shipping. The Flemish Inland Shipping Association reported on Tuesday that 200 vessels were unable to sail.
It is expected that it will take until Friday to clear all the delays. Inland shipping operators indicate that it can sometimes take them more than a week to get back on schedule.
