| Country | Belgium |
| Port/s | All ports |
| Impact | Partial Closure |
In continuation of yesterday’s port advisory, please find below the latest operational status for Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Ghent, along with important restrictions and upcoming industrial actions.
Current Situation
- 20 ACOD Pilots are scheduled to start a strike on 11/03/2026 at 10:00 AM. It is likely that the Pilot Unions VSAO, ACV, and tender vessels will also participate.
- The Zandvliet Vessel Traffic Centre will cease operations from tonight, 11 March 2026, at 19:30 hours, meaning no vessel movements will be possible to and from the Port of Antwerp via the river.
- Shifting within port limits remains possible, provided no river passage is required.
- It is currently unclear whether inland navigation will be affected; this will be decided by the Joint Nautical Authority (Flanders/The Netherlands).
Antwerp
- Only Dutch pilots available, operating via Pilot Station North
- Inbound without prospects: 21
- Inbound scheduled or underway: 2
- Outbound without prospects: 18
- Outbound scheduled or underway: 3
Zeebrugge
- Inbound without prospects: 13
- Outbound without prospects: 9
Ghent
- No data available at this time; an update may follow later.
Draft Restrictions and Route Availability
- Vessels with a draft of less than 7.5 metres may proceed at all times.
- Vessels with a maximum draft of approximately 8.5 metres are subject to tidal restrictions (as advised by the Chief Pilot).
- Vessels exceeding a draft of 8.5 metres cannot use the westbound route due to the strike at the Traffic Control Centre (TCC) in Zeebrugge.
A national strike is scheduled for 12 March 2026, which may have further impact on port and logistics operations.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out at [email protected].