Strikes halt operations at Belgian ports

A 24 hour strike at ports in Belgium has brought the country’s shipping trade to a standstill, with Europe’s third largest port, the Port of Antwerp, amongst those affected.

As of 11.30 GMT on 24 November, traffic had brought 50 ships at Antwerp to a halt, of which 27 were waiting to leave the port and 23 were waiting to enter it. The port expects it will take at least one day to clear the backlog.

Dock workers are unhappy at pro-austerity measures made by Belgium’s government and also “fear” that the EU is looking to change the way operations are organised.