Belgium’s largest port complex ground to a near-standstill on 12 June as pilotage and dispatch personnel walked out over pay and staffing levels, part of a broader three-day national strike. News agency AK&M reports that container terminals on both the Scheldt and Zeebrugge sides processed only emergency calls, forcing several deep-sea vessels to divert to Rotterdam and Le Havre. The disruption hits just as automotive and chemical exporters ramp up pre-summer shipments. Logistics consultancy Portius estimates that each suspended pilotage slot delays cargo worth €22 million.
![Strike by Pilots and Dispatchers Halts Operations at Port of Antwerp-Bruges]()
For international crews, suppliers or executives who suddenly need to reroute via alternative EU gateways, keeping travel documents in order is critical. VisaHQ’s Brussels team can arrange rapid Belgian and wider Schengen visa extensions or multiple-entry permits, ensuring personnel stay compliant even when itineraries change at the last minute. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
Multinationals such as BASF and Volvo Cars activated contingency plans, shifting urgent components onto rail and road corridors via Aachen. Business-traveller mobility is also affected: ferry operator P&O cancelled two Zeebrugge–Hull sailings, while Eurostar advised passengers to expect knock-on crew shortages. Employers should alert staff to possible customs bottlenecks once normal operations resume, as backlog clearance can take 48–72 hours. Unions ACV-Transcom and BTB demand a 7 % wage indexation and stricter limits on maximum pilot shifts. The Federal Mobility Ministry has invited mediators, but warned it may requisition staff if navigation safety is compromised.
For international crews, suppliers or executives who suddenly need to reroute via alternative EU gateways, keeping travel documents in order is critical. VisaHQ’s Brussels team can arrange rapid Belgian and wider Schengen visa extensions or multiple-entry permits, ensuring personnel stay compliant even when itineraries change at the last minute. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
Multinationals such as BASF and Volvo Cars activated contingency plans, shifting urgent components onto rail and road corridors via Aachen. Business-traveller mobility is also affected: ferry operator P&O cancelled two Zeebrugge–Hull sailings, while Eurostar advised passengers to expect knock-on crew shortages. Employers should alert staff to possible customs bottlenecks once normal operations resume, as backlog clearance can take 48–72 hours. Unions ACV-Transcom and BTB demand a 7 % wage indexation and stricter limits on maximum pilot shifts. The Federal Mobility Ministry has invited mediators, but warned it may requisition staff if navigation safety is compromised.
