Inaugurated in the port of Antwerp the work for the second one closed on the left river of the Schelda



Today in the port of Antwerp the ceremony of inauguration of the work for the closed realization of the second one has been carried out on the left river of the Schelda river, yard in which will work 255 people daily and that it will close down in 2016 ( on 13 September 2010).

The work will cost about 340 million euros, of which financed 50% from the European Investment Bank (BEAUTIFUL) until a maximum of 170 million euros. A financing for 81 million euros is granted also by Belgian KBC Bank, while the remaining quota will be distributed by Port Authority of Antwerp and the Flemish government.

The work of the duration of 53 months, started with preparatory activities 24th October, will be realized by a consortium constituted from the five Jan De Nul enterprises, CEI-De Meyer and Betonac, Horbosch-Kiere and Antwerpse Bouwwerken.

To the today's ceremony they have participated to the Flemish minister to Mobility and public works, Hilde Crevits, the president of the BEAUTIFUL ones, Philippe Maystadt, and the president of the Harbour Authority of Antwerp and city city council member to the port, Marc Van Peel.

"Also in a moment in which they must be put into effect considerable savings - minister Crevits has commented - a project as that of the second one closed on the left river is essential for Flanders. An investment of this type offers a return in terms of greater marine, industrial and logistic activity in the harbour area Waasland and increases the opportunities of occupation to local level".

From part its Marc Van Peel has remembered that during the last few years the development of the port of Antwerp is concentrated on the left river with projects as the lengthening of the Verrebroek dock and the potenziamento of the Saeftinghe area and has emphasized that a second point of access to the area is essential: "the second one closed - it has found the president of the Harbour Authority - is vital for the ulterior expansion of our port on the left river of the Schelda. With the second one closed and the dredging of the Schelda, carried to term last year, the Harbour Authority of Antwerp is answering appropriately to the increase of scale of the marine traffic and is preserving the position of our port which number two in Europe".