No relief from barge congestion in North Europe

Congestion in northern Europe, particularly near Antwerp, has been plaguing shippers for nearly a year, with no solutions offered up by carriers or port authorities, according to a recent report from The Loadstar.    Shippers are becoming increasingly frustrated and feel “powerless” over the barge congestion occurring in northern Europe, according to a recent report from The Loadstar.
   Barge congestion at Antwerp has been a problem since last year, according to Stanley Black & Decker’s senior transportation manager for EMEA-ANZ, David Lenaers told Loadstar. Barges are waiting up to five days for loading and unloading of containers, causing a 19.50 euro (U.S. $22.92) container surcharge, according to Dutch barge operator Contargo.
   But delays of up to seven days are becoming more frequency, especially during peak periods, said Lenaers. Inland terminals currently have no solutions and direct inquiries back to ocean carriers, who in turn point back to inland terminals and port authorizes in an endless cycle.
   “Although things may have seen a slight improvement over the last month, delays persist,” Lenaers said. “Furthermore, it seems there is no immediate solution in sight – with shippers being left out of the discussion and nobody willing to talk to, or represent, us.”
   The roads offer no solutions, as bottlenecks are already an issue at the port of Antwerp – plus it’s expensive. “Various factors make using the canal the quickest form of transport. We have the goods delivered to Meerhout and then truck them the last few kilometres,” said Lenaers. “If we were to truck them the whole way, it would become a 50km trip, which not only delays delivery but is also prohibitively expensive.”
   The Port of Antwerp says it is aware of the delays and congestion, citing a shortage of dock workers and capacity space alongside rising volumes, according to the Loadstar report.