Study visit to the Port of Antwerp

On 11 and 12 December 2013 a delegation of the Transport Category went on a study visit to the Port of Antwerp. They were welcomed by Mr Danny Deckers and Mr Guy Janssens from the Antwerp Port Authority. The Port Authority manages and maintains the docks, bridges, locks, quay walls and land and ensures the efficient and safe day-to-day operation of the port with the help of its 1650 employees.

Mr Deckers gave a general introduction and explained the history of the port from the arrival of Napoleon through to the present day. Today the Port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe (after Rotterdam) with a total area of more than 12 000 ha and 163 km of quay. It generates more than EUR 19 billion in added value (in 2010), or 5.4% of Belgian GDP. The Port of Antwerp employs more than 145 000 people.

The port's total capacity per year is 15 million TEU*, it is accessible to the world's largest container vessels and its work is highly automated. It is the main European port for steel, fruit and forest products. The port also pursues activities outside Europe in strategic growth regions such as Brazil, India, the Middle East and Africa. The port's great advantage is of course proximity. Sixty per cent of Europe's purchasing power is located within 500 km of Antwerp.

The port authorities have ambitious plans to invest EUR 1.6 billion up to 2025. The deepening of the Scheldt River has already been completed. Short term projects include a rail tunnel connecting the left and right banks, construction of a second lock on the left bank, renovation and further investments in the docks, and purchase of a trailing suction hopper dredger, new tugboats, dumb barges and a pusher barge.

Afterwards, Mr Guy Janssens, Policy Manager, focused on the role of the Antwerp Port Authority, the legal framework and the general European policy framework. The Antwerp Port Authority operates in accordance with the landlord model. They manage the port area, plots of land are granted to private operators through concession procedures, and cargo handling operations are carried out by private companies. Basic port infrastructure is built by the Flemish government or by the Antwerp Port Authority, while private companies build superstructure such as warehousing, etc.

Discussions were continued in the evening by visiting the new vertical town and port museum "MAS" where from its roof terrace one has a splendid view on the lights of Town and Port. During dinner in the old original 19th century steel constructed warehouse "Felixpakuis" informal discussions with the Ports' representatives continued.

On the second day the delegation went on a bus tour of the port to inspect its activities in more detail. They also paid a brief visit to the construction site of the “Deurganckdok lock” – the largest in the world - which is scheduled for completion in 2016.

* TEU – measurement for containers; Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, on the standard intermodal container. Most widely used is the 40 foot container, or 2 TEU