THE government of the Belgian Flanders Region has said it will build a new Antwerp tidal dock on the River Scheldt's bank, expected to add another 7.1 million TEU to Antwerp's annual volume of 11.87 million TEU, reports London-area WorldCargo News.
The plan, to be shovel ready in two and a half years, is the ninth version of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp project, replacing earlier plans that included the disappearance of the village of Doel, which were ruled illegal.
Over the years the village - which currently has 145 inhabitants, mainly squatters - has become a symbol of popular counterculture against 'globalisation.' The new dock will be placed immediately north of the tidal Deurganckdok.
The Saeftinghedok would have been located further north, nearer the Doel nuclear power plant, razing Doel village. The latest Flemish government's decision being a compromise, what might be termed the 'Saeftinghedok Light Dock' will have 3.9 million TEU annual capacity, against the five million TEU originally planned.
It will feature 1,400 metres of deepsea quay, 450 metres for barges and 56-ha of terminal space - see Zone 3 Docken in the map. Antwerp port authority told WorldCargo News that it might get a new name.
Welcoming the government's decision, Antwerp port alderman Annick De Ridder said that construction of the port's second tidal dock is to be started within 2.5 years.
Singapore's port operator PSA's holding, Noordzeeterminal will get 500 metres of new deep sea quay and 12.7-ha of additional terminal space for its extra 900,000 TEU.
Said Port of Antwerp CEO Jacques Vandermeiren: 'We can now jointly shape the various sub-projects with the necessary emphasis on the modal split. The need for additional container capacity is underscored by our positive 2019 figures.'
For the seventh straight year, Antwerp has topped its annual record, up 6.9 per cent year on year to 11.87 million TEU. Against a backdrop of tensions in world trade, the share of container freight increased to 138.9 million tonnes (+6.2 per cent), while the dry bulk segment saw its total volume expand 3.4 per cent to 13.5 million tonnes.
WORLD SHIPPING
The plan, to be shovel ready in two and a half years, is the ninth version of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp project, replacing earlier plans that included the disappearance of the village of Doel, which were ruled illegal.
Over the years the village - which currently has 145 inhabitants, mainly squatters - has become a symbol of popular counterculture against 'globalisation.' The new dock will be placed immediately north of the tidal Deurganckdok.
The Saeftinghedok would have been located further north, nearer the Doel nuclear power plant, razing Doel village. The latest Flemish government's decision being a compromise, what might be termed the 'Saeftinghedok Light Dock' will have 3.9 million TEU annual capacity, against the five million TEU originally planned.
It will feature 1,400 metres of deepsea quay, 450 metres for barges and 56-ha of terminal space - see Zone 3 Docken in the map. Antwerp port authority told WorldCargo News that it might get a new name.
Welcoming the government's decision, Antwerp port alderman Annick De Ridder said that construction of the port's second tidal dock is to be started within 2.5 years.
Singapore's port operator PSA's holding, Noordzeeterminal will get 500 metres of new deep sea quay and 12.7-ha of additional terminal space for its extra 900,000 TEU.
Said Port of Antwerp CEO Jacques Vandermeiren: 'We can now jointly shape the various sub-projects with the necessary emphasis on the modal split. The need for additional container capacity is underscored by our positive 2019 figures.'
For the seventh straight year, Antwerp has topped its annual record, up 6.9 per cent year on year to 11.87 million TEU. Against a backdrop of tensions in world trade, the share of container freight increased to 138.9 million tonnes (+6.2 per cent), while the dry bulk segment saw its total volume expand 3.4 per cent to 13.5 million tonnes.
WORLD SHIPPING