Container operations at the Port of Rotterdam have come to a standstill due to a 48-hour strike by employees responsible for securing and releasing containers on ships and at docks. The labor action, which began on October 8, will continue through October 10.

As reported by ShippingWatch, the strike is a result of unresolved labor disputes concerning working conditions and compensation. The disruptions are mainly at deep-sea and feeder terminals. However, landside handling for barges, trains, and trucks, where lashing is not necessary, remains unaffected, a press release from Hutchison Ports Rotterdam said.

splash247 reported that the Port of Rotterdam Authority warned of a growing backlog of vessels waiting to enter the port, and that it was too soon to determine the extent of delays.

The union representing Rotterdam’s lashing workers has scheduled a general meeting for October 12 to assess developments and decide on the next steps, The Maritime Executive reported. The situation is further complicated by ongoing labor unrest in Belgium. Harbor pilots in Belgium initiated a slowdown on October 5, which has led to prolonged vessel delays that are being felt in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Ghent.

There are concerns about the potential ripple effects of these combined actions. splash247 noted that continued strike activity could disrupt container and energy supply chains throughout Northern Europe, impacting both regional and global logistics operations.

Source: ShippingWatch, Hutchinson Ports Rotterdam, splash247, The Maritime Executive