Maritime pilots plan private service as alternative to state monopoly
Ten Flemish maritime pilots are working on plans to launch a private pilotage service for vessels using the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The initiative could introduce competition into a sector currently dominated by the government-run pilotage service and has already won the backing of the port authority. The plans were reported by Gazet van Antwerpen on Wednesday.
The proposed company, to be called Vlaams Loodswezen bv, aims to begin operations in 2027 and eventually handle around 20 per cent of pilotage services for shipping traffic to and from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Pilots joining the venture would leave their civil servant status and become self-employed shareholders in the new company.
The initiative comes amid ongoing tensions over pension reforms and working conditions. Flemish pilots have staged a series of industrial actions in recent years, causing significant disruption to shipping traffic and prompting criticism from the port sector.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has welcomed the proposal. In a statement, the port said it "embraces this initiative and supports it fully", arguing that repeated industrial action by pilots has damaged both the economy and the port's international reputation.
The private model is said to be inspired by the Netherlands, where pilotage services were privatised in 1988. Dutch pilots operate through a private organisation and strikes are rare.
The plans have nevertheless prompted questions within the pilotage service itself. Some pilots reportedly doubt whether two parallel pilotage systems would be financially viable, while others are seeking more clarity on the conditions of leaving the public service.
Open to alternatives
Flemish Ports minister Annick De Ridder of N-VA has not formally endorsed the proposal but signalled openness to examining alternatives. She said initiatives that contribute to service continuity, maritime safety and the competitiveness of Flemish ports should be assessed on their merits and, if necessary, followed by the appropriate legislative process.
The Agency for Maritime Services and the Coast, which oversees the current pilotage service, said it was not involved in the initiative and described it as a private project by a group of pilots.
The proposal is still at an early stage, but it has reignited debate about the organisation of pilotage services and whether greater competition could reduce the impact of labour disputes on one of Europe's largest ports.
#FlandersNewsService | ©BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
Related news
