by Priya Radünzel, SeaNewsEditor
Europe’s container ports are under mounting pressure, with the Port of Antwerp experiencing severe congestion that is disrupting supply chains and driving up logistics costs.
Analyst firm Drewry reports that berth waiting times at Antwerp have risen from 32 hours in Week 13 to 44 hours in Week 20, a 37% increase.
According to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the congestion is more severe and complex than it was during the COVID pandemic.
"Calling it busy is putting it mildly," said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, to De Tijd.
"Chaos is a better word. The pressure on the supply chain, which normally runs as efficiently as possible, is unprecedented. We only experienced something similar during COVID, but then the cause was clear: when everyone restarts at the same time and needs goods delivered to the same ports, you get a bottleneck. Now, there are bottlenecks everywhere, for many different reasons. And no one knows how long it will last."
The problem is multi-faceted
Geopolitical tensions, low water levels in the Rhine, strikes and labour shortages are all contributing to congestion.
Most recently, a nationwide strike on 20 May halted vessel traffic at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, adding further complications to an already overstretched system.
However, the port points to the recent reshuffling of global shipping alliances as a major factor.
The newly formed Gemini alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd has introduced a hub-and-spoke model, reducing direct calls by large vessels and increasing reliance on smaller feeder ships.
This has led to more fragmented arrivals at ports like Antwerp, which is not a designated hub in the Gemini network on the Asia-Europe route.
“We’re seeing several Gemini shuttles now reaching cruising speed,” said a PSA spokesperson to De Tijd.
“Fewer large ships are coming directly to Antwerp, but more smaller feeders are arriving. The volumes remain high, but everything is arriving in a more fragmented way.”
The alliance restructuring is being implemented in stages, requiring ports to handle both new and existing alliance volumes simultaneously.
Yard congestion is an ongoing battle
Another consequence of the alliance reshuffle and heavy congestion is that ships may not always arrive on time or at all, leaving containers on the wharf.
Shipments are now staying on the quay for up to eight days, well beyond the ideal five, creating a knock-on effect across the logistics chain. Inland transport is delayed, truckers are stuck in queues, and barge traffic is heavily disrupted.
Despite these challenges, Antwerp's container throughput continues to grow, reaching 13.5 million TEUs in 2024, an 8.1% increase from the previous year.
However, the port is at full capacity, and regulatory and budget constraints have delayed expansion plans. A new terminal project, expected to add 7.1 million TEUs of capacity, won't begin construction until 2029.
For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map.
