Port of Antwerp Approves Project to Expand Container Handling Capacity

The Flemish Government (Belgium) approved the draft project "Left Bank Container Cluster" at the Port of Antwerp. The objective of the initiative is to provide the Belgian facility with additional cargo handling capacity.

Details of this milestone were provided on the port's website, stating that "it is a joint initiative of the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and the Corporation for the Development of the Left Bank (Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever). The project will increase Antwerp's container handling capacity by 7 million TEU."

Furthermore, it was announced that "the Left Bank Container Complex (CCL) forms the core of the ECA project. Its central component is the construction of a second tidal dock for container ships, adjacent to the already existing Deurganck dock."

"Connected to the new container terminals will be the Three Docks logistics zone, which will provide space for container logistics operations, as well as a significant landscape buffer zone that will separate the port infrastructure from the surrounding polders and the village of Doel," the publication added.

In this regard, Johan Klaps, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, stated that "we are pleased that this important step forward has been taken. Worldwide, more and more goods are transported in containers. The demand for container handling also continues to grow in Antwerp. Without additional capacity, the volume of cargo — and the economic activity it entails — risks being moved to other ports."

"The Left Bank Container Cluster will allow us to continue managing the growing container volume efficiently and ensure the future of the port," he added.

Currently, the project remains in a public consultation process valid until August 10 of the current year, where modifications can be included before presenting it to the Council of State.