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25 November 2025 National strike days will take place between 24-26 November. Disruption is expected in the port of Antwerp-Bruges. We are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you informed of the latest information via this page. Antwerp - 25/11/2025 - 07:30 Inbound and outbound sea traffic via the Wandelaar pilot dispatch station remains blocked until 26/11 at 07:30 due to industrial action, leaving only the northern route (LKN) available. The Vlissingen pilot launch service is suspended for Flemish pilots (Dutch pilots remain operational), but vessel movements within the port area are still possible. The Zandvliet Traffic Control Centre is operational, and inland navigation on the Scheldt can continue. Behind the locks, 80% of the tug fleet is available. VTS and passage planning are fully operational. All locks and bridges are functioning, with the exception of the Kallo, Zandvliet and Van Cauwelaert locks. Currently, 30 outbound and 34 inbound vessels are waiting without a clear outlook. Zeebrugge - 25/11/2025 - 07:30 Inbound and outbound traffic for all shipping is blocked until 26/11 07:30 due to union action at the Traffic Control Centre. Shipping movements within the port area remain possible, and the PVD lock is operational. There are 6 outbound and 4 inbound vessels waiting. Antwerp - 24/11/2025 - 19:30 The inbound and outbound traffic for seagoing vessels via the Wandelaar pilotage station is suspended due to industrial action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre, and this until 26 November at 07:30. The Flemish piloting service in Vlissingen was on strike from 24 November at 12:30 until 24 November at 19:30, causing six outbound vessels to be blocked at the anchorage areas in the Wielingen. Inbound and outbound traffic is only possible via LKN. Shipping movements within the port area remain possible. The deployment of tugboats behind the locks is at 75%. VTS and passage planning remain fully operational (100%). All locks and bridges are functioning normally, with the exception of the Kallo, Zandvliet and Van Cauwelaert locks. At present, 13 outbound vessels are waiting with no prospect of departure, and 23 inbound vessels are waiting with no prospect of entering the port. Zeebrugge - 24/11/2025 - 19:30 In Zeebrugge, inbound and outbound traffic for all shipping is completely suspended due to the industrial action at the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre, also until 26 November at 07:30. Shifting operations within the port area remain possible. The PVD lock is operational. In total, five outbound vessels and three inbound vessels are waiting with no prospect of movement. Update 24/11/2025 - 12:30 The pilotage service in Vlissingen, which is responsible for transferring Flemish pilots to seagoing vessels to guide them to and from the ports, was completely suspended from 12:30 p.m. today. As a result, seagoing ships cannot enter or leave the Port of Antwerp, except for a limited number of vessels operating with Dutch pilots. In addition, access to the Port of Zeebrugge has been fully blocked from 7:30 p.m.. Update 24/11/2025 - 07:00 Today, during the day shift, no interruptions were reported in the nautical chain. From 19:30 this evening until 07:30 on Wednesday morning, the Zeebrugge Traffic Control Center will cease operations. As a result, piloting on LKW will not be possible and shipping traffic in the entire operational area will be halted. For Antwerp, piloting will remain possible only via LKN, but this will cause significant disruption from 19:30 onwards. The Kallo lock is out of service and tug availability is currently at 90%. Throughout the day, shipping traffic is continuously adjusted in line with the union actions. Update 21/11/2025 - 10:00 The Zeebrugge Traffic Control Center will be closed from Monday, 24 November at 19:30 until Wednesday, 26 November at 07:30. During this period, no pilotage via LKW will be possible. We will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available. Update 19/11/2025 - 15:00 Due to union actions, there may be an impact on shipping traffic in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. In the coming days, we expect to gain more clarity on the extent of this impact. Port of Antwerp-Bruges, press release 
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