A 24-hour strike by ACOD maritime pilots has disrupted operations across the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, with pilotage capacity remaining heavily restricted.
According to the latest update at 19:00 on 5 June 2026, industrial action continues to escalate operational delays, particularly in Antwerp, where 20 outbound vessels are waiting to depart, and 17 inbound vessels are awaiting pilotage services.
At present, only Dutch pilots are operational, while the availability of Belgian pilots remains limited. In Zeebrugge, two inbound and three outbound vessels are currently without pilotage planning.
Coastal pilots affiliated with ACOD are operating only during day shifts (08:00 – 17:00), with the remaining personnel off duty. No further pilot availability is expected before at least 07:00 the following morning.
Authorities indicated that disruption is likely to intensify overnight depending on the duration of industrial action.
READ: Antwerp-Bruges port sees major disruption amid strike
Earlier at 08:00 on 5 June, the strike officially began, resulting in a significant reduction in Belgian pilot availability and immediate scheduling constraints across both inbound and outbound traffic.
In Antwerp, ten outbound vessels were already affected at the start of the action, with three scheduled with delays and seven awaiting planning. On the inbound side, three vessels were delayed, and eight remained unscheduled.
At that time, coastal operations were still unclear, with partial indications that only office-hour pilotage services (08:00 – 17:00) would be maintained. Given a fully booked schedule, further knock-on delays were anticipated throughout the day.
The situation remains under close monitoring as port authorities assess the evolving operational impact on shipping flows across Antwerp-Bruges.
For more information:
Port of Antwerp-Bruges – https://www.portofantwerpbruges.com/en
