Inland shipping is experiencing significant delays in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. This is partly due to congestion in deep-sea shipping, causing inland vessels to sometimes wait for days before they can be loaded. Average waiting times are reaching up to 64 hours in Rotterdam and even 78 hours in Antwerp.

The financial impact is substantial. WEC Lines, a Dutch shipping company, indicates that the current situation is costing the company over six hundred thousand euros per month. Other carriers, such as Contargo and Inland Terminals Group, also report that the waiting times result in less available capacity and higher costs in the chain.

The delays have multiple causes: irregular arrivals since the COVID-19 pandemic, rerouting due to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, deployment of larger ships, low water levels on the Rhine, and changed collaborations between major shipping companies like Maersk and MSC. Additionally, according to shippers’ organization Evofenedex, there is “unfair priority” given to seagoing vessels, which they claim hinders sustainable goods flow.

The port authorities of Rotterdam and Antwerp acknowledge the issues and emphasize that other Western European ports are experiencing similar congestion. According to them, there has been insufficient investment in infrastructure and capacity, further increasing pressure on inland shipping.

At Van der Helm, we are closely monitoring these developments. The reliability and flow in the chain are under pressure, affecting everyone in logistics. Clear communication, smart planning, and flexibility are more important than ever in this situation.

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