News / Europe's barge operators 'losing hope' as port congestion leaves them stranded

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North Europe’s beleaguered barge sector appears to be “without hope”, as it struggles to deal with its own structural failings and the worsening situation at the region’s deepsea ports.

One forwarder said congestion at Antwerp and Rotterdam’s inland waterways was not only “unchanged” but waiting times were rising again as the result of a surge in ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) from Asia.

The forwarder told The Loadstar: “There is nothing that can be done to improve barge congestion, as it’s all resulting from ...