Severe Weather Disrupts Operations at Port of Antwerp-Bruges
• Severe weather, including snowstorms and storms in the Bay of Biscay, significantly disrupted operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in early
• The port experienced a loss of approximately 100,000 TEU due to weather disruptions and a strike, but volumes began to recover from mid-February.
• The events highlight the need for increased port resilience, infrastructure investment, and adaptive strategies to mitigate the impact of extreme weather on maritime logistics.
Severe weather and strikes impact port operations
At the beginning of 2026, severe weather significantly affected operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. A combination of a significant snowstorm and an extended period of cold weather in January, followed by severe storms in the Bay of Biscay lasting until mid-February, significantly hampered shipping schedules and terminal operations. These weather-related challenges, along with a four-day strike protesting pension reforms, caused numerous ships to be diverted to other ports and decreased the port's container handling capacity.
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