Strikes and autumn weather disastrous for handling

30 October 2025

Following a weekend filled with autumn storms and consequently very limited activity at terminals, trade union FNV announced a strike lasting several days at lashing companies ILS & Matrans Marine Services. Diverting to Belgium was not an option this time, as work there was also halted for days due to strikes. How will this turbulent October month affect the handling of your cargoes?

Lashers wanted money on the table

On Wednesday 8 October, shortly after the port was closed for days following a stormy weekend, workers at lashing companies ILS & Matrans Marine Services decided to stop work. The strike was due to the breakdown of collective bargaining negotiations.

Without lashers, who make sure cargo is properly secured and released, vessels could neither load nor unload. This had a big impact on Rotterdam’s already overburdened terminals. After almost a week of work stoppages, a court-driven compromise allowed work to resume.

In the meantime, an agreement was reached for the next three years, which included a 17% to 20% wage increase, a fund for training and an inflation adjustment for 2025 and 2026. The port has been fully operational again since Friday 17 October, although the consequences and backlog are almost incalculable.

Ongoing strike in Belgium limits diversion options

Unfortunately, diverting to ports in Belgium is and was not an option for shipping companies. Work at our southern neighbours was also at a standstill in the first week of October. Strikes organised by pilots against announced pension reforms are still hampering shipping traffic in the ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge.

Hundreds of vessels were stuck and unable to reach the ports. Some sailed on, others ultimately decided to anchor in the North Sea. Even now, the logistics chain still needs to be patient; a queue of several days for container ships is currently not unusual.

Serious consequences for the logistics chain

Back to the port of Rotterdam for a moment. What do you now need to take into account following all the disruption earlier this month?

Over the coming weeks, the focus will be on clearing the backlog. Both imports and exports have been hit hard by all the stoppages. Many shipping companies have also been forced to make rotation changes and skip the port of Rotterdam. As a result, sailing schedules are currently less reliable.

We would like to ask for your understanding while everyone is trying to get things back on track, because your logistics chain is also very likely to be impacted by this for several weeks. With terminals already overcrowded and more stormy weather on the way, we must ask you to anticipate processing delays.

For specific questions about your cargo, please feel free to contact your regular contact person.