Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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Rotterdam Port's ship backlog has doubled due to a lashers' strike for higher wages. Union talks with employers are ongoing, with potential for continued disruption.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, faced a growing ship backlog on Thursday as lashers - who secure a vessel's cargo - continued their strike for higher wages, a port spokesperson said.
She added that the usual queue of six to seven ships had doubled to 13. While the increase was still mainly due to Storm Amy last weekend, the lashers' strike was having an impact that would increase if it continues until 3:15 p.m. (1315 GMT) on Friday, as initially announced, she added.
"Normally, lashers handle 17,000 fully loaded import containers per day on the sea side," the spokesperson said.
An FNV union spokesperson said the union would meet with employers Matrans and ILS on Friday at noon. If an agreement is reached, lashers will resume work; if not, the union has threatened to continue the strike over the weekend.
In a statement late Wednesday, Matrans and ILS called the strike "unjustifed and very harmful".
To avoid a backlog, ships would typically divert to Antwerp, but the port there is also being affected by a days-long protest, a Port of Antwerp spokesperson said. Harbor pilots are conducting a work-to-rule action in response to pension reforms announced by the Belgian government.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout. Editing by Mark Potter)
A lasher is a worker responsible for securing cargo on ships to ensure safe transportation. They play a crucial role in port operations.
A ship backlog refers to the accumulation of vessels waiting to dock at a port, often due to delays caused by strikes, weather, or other disruptions.
Union negotiation is a process where labor unions and employers discuss terms of employment, including wages, working conditions, and benefits.
Cargo refers to goods or products transported by ship, aircraft, truck, or train. It can include a wide range of items from raw materials to finished products.
A port spokesperson is an official representative who communicates information about port operations, issues, and developments to the public and media.
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