Katoen Natie, owned by Fernand Huts, has proposed an alternative to the planned Second Tidal Dock as part of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp (ECA) project. The company argued that the original project was both too costly and delayed and suggested that an alternative on the right bank would be entirely feasible.

In a press release, Katoen Natie introduced its alternative to the planned Second Tidal Dock (Tweede Getijdendok) within the scope of the ECA project.

According to Katoen Natie, “the port of Antwerp is struggling with a capacity problem for container storage and transhipment and as a result, shipping companies are forced to have container ships handled in surrounding ports such as Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Le Havre. Additional container capacity is necessary to ensure Antwerp’s position as a logistics hub in Europe.”

To accommodate the growth in container traffic, the Flemish government recently gave the green light for the ECA plan. The plan provides space for an additional 7m TEU on top of the current annual capacity of 15m TEU, including the construction of a new dock on the Left Bank of the Scheldt, the so-called Tweede Getijdendok, as well. The commissioning of the dock is provisionally scheduled for 2030.

“That is far too late because the port needs the extra capacity now. Building and making the Tweede Getijdendok operational is also a major expense for the government. The price tag -including associated infrastructure works – is estimated at €8b. Because this is a tidal dock, the dock quickly silts up with sand and mud that the river Scheldt deposits. This makes it necessary to dredge the dock regularly to ensure the required draft for the container ships, which also entails significant costs,” Katoen Natie explained.

The company has devised an alternative for the new Tweede Getijdendok and is investigating whether the SEA-invest group – which already operates a container terminal at the Bevrijdingsdok – can be involved in this: “By redeveloping a 220-hectare concession site around the Bevrijdingsdok, an additional container handling capacity of 9m TEU annually can be realised. In addition to a quay length of 4.4 km, the site on the Right Bank of the river Scheldt has excellent and existing road and rail connections.”

Katoen Natie further said that “the alternative solution can save the government (and the taxpayer) at least €8b and the port of Antwerp can expand its container capacity in the very short term without any inconvenience to the port community and citizens.”

“This alternative can be realised immediately. The construction of the new Tweede Getijdendok will probably take another ten years, which will significantly increase the estimated construction costs to over €8b. Because existing port infrastructure is being redeveloped, no additional (natural) land needs to be sacrificed. The annual capacity of the container terminal to be developed on the Right Bank of the river Scheldt is 9m TEU, 2m more than what the ECA plan provides,” the company added.

“In addition, it helps to better distribute freight traffic over both banks of the river Scheldt, which will benefit the traffic flow in the port. Finally, it ensures that part of Antwerp’s container handling will once again be in Flemish hands. With all these advantages, the alternative offers a feasible and efficient solution to the existing capacity problem in the Scheldt port. Antwerp can accommodate the expected growth of its container traffic and the economic engine of Belgium can continue to run,” Katoen Natie concluded.

Katoen Natie, owned by Fernand Huts, has proposed an alternative to the planned Second Tidal Dock as part of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp (ECA) project. The company argued that the original project was both too costly and delayed and suggested that an alternative on the right bank would be entirely feasible.

In a press release, Katoen Natie introduced its alternative to the planned Second Tidal Dock (Tweede Getijdendok) within the scope of the ECA project.

According to Katoen Natie, “the port of Antwerp is struggling with a capacity problem for container storage and transhipment and as a result, shipping companies are forced to have container ships handled in surrounding ports such as Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Le Havre. Additional container capacity is necessary to ensure Antwerp’s position as a logistics hub in Europe.”

To accommodate the growth in container traffic, the Flemish government recently gave the green light for the ECA plan. The plan provides space for an additional 7m TEU on top of the current annual capacity of 15m TEU, including the construction of a new dock on the Left Bank of the Scheldt, the so-called Tweede Getijdendok, as well. The commissioning of the dock is provisionally scheduled for 2030.

“That is far too late because the port needs the extra capacity now. Building and making the Tweede Getijdendok operational is also a major expense for the government. The price tag -including associated infrastructure works – is estimated at €8b. Because this is a tidal dock, the dock quickly silts up with sand and mud that the river Scheldt deposits. This makes it necessary to dredge the dock regularly to ensure the required draft for the container ships, which also entails significant costs,” Katoen Natie explained.

The company has devised an alternative for the new Tweede Getijdendok and is investigating whether the SEA-invest group – which already operates a container terminal at the Bevrijdingsdok – can be involved in this: “By redeveloping a 220-hectare concession site around the Bevrijdingsdok, an additional container handling capacity of 9m TEU annually can be realised. In addition to a quay length of 4.4 km, the site on the Right Bank of the river Scheldt has excellent and existing road and rail connections.”

Katoen Natie further said that “the alternative solution can save the government (and the taxpayer) at least €8b and the port of Antwerp can expand its container capacity in the very short term without any inconvenience to the port community and citizens.”

“This alternative can be realised immediately. The construction of the new Tweede Getijdendok will probably take another ten years, which will significantly increase the estimated construction costs to over €8b. Because existing port infrastructure is being redeveloped, no additional (natural) land needs to be sacrificed. The annual capacity of the container terminal to be developed on the Right Bank of the river Scheldt is 9m TEU, 2m more than what the ECA plan provides,” the company added.

“In addition, it helps to better distribute freight traffic over both banks of the river Scheldt, which will benefit the traffic flow in the port. Finally, it ensures that part of Antwerp’s container handling will once again be in Flemish hands. With all these advantages, the alternative offers a feasible and efficient solution to the existing capacity problem in the Scheldt port. Antwerp can accommodate the expected growth of its container traffic and the economic engine of Belgium can continue to run,” Katoen Natie concluded.