No inland shipping due to spontaneous strike

The staff who operate the locks, among others, have spontaneously stopped working.

“That is the case, for example, in Bruges with hindrance on the canal Ghent-Ostend and Bruges-Zeebruggein Harelbeke and mean on the Lysin Wintam and on the Albert Canal,” says Ilse Remy of ACV Public Services. “There is virtually no inland shipping possible in Flanders anymore.”

“Short of staff”

De Vlaamse Waterweg – the agency that manages the Flemish waterways – confirms the strike.

“A number of locks are closed, including on the Albert Canal. Inland shipping is almost no longer possible,” said spokeswoman Liliane Stinissen. Employees are laying down their jobs in response to the chronic staff shortage, unions said. “Quality and safe work is no longer possible due to a lack of personnel,” it sounds.