Last week the Port of Antwerp reconvened its Covid-19 Taskforce as Belgium experienced a surge in cases of the virus.  Antwerp emphasised the port will remain open: “The port is part of Belgium’s essential infrastructure, playing a crucial role in supplying Belgium and Europe. The port will remain 100% operational during this second wave of the coronavirus,” it said in a statement. 

Antwerp is the hardest-hit area in Belgium as COVID-19 resurges in the country, and the Belgian government is introducing new restrictions to manage the situation. Maersk Line has advised that it is closing its Antwerp office and all staff will work from home.

In an advisory, Maersk Line announced new procedures for managing import and export bills of lading, including options for electronic release. The carrier told customers: “We strongly recommend you ask your agents or shipper at origin to issue BLs in Sea Way Bill mode or perform Telex release in your favour to minimize document exchanges.”

This will not always be possible, and Maersk said: “In the event that you have no other option than to hand over the original B/L to our Antwerp office, you will be guided by our staff where to send it – only by DHL ,TNT or On Time (local) – no other couriers or personal deliveries will be accepted.”

This is another example of the paper-based B/L process being difficult to manage in the COVID-19 pandemic. To move the industry forward, the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) has launched an initiative to develop standards to support an electronic bill of lading (eBL) for the container shipping industry.