Agreement to ensure the port of Antwerp additional containerized traffic capacity



The Port of Antwerp will be able to carry out its own projects to greatly increase the capacity of the airport to handle containerized traffic. The development perspective was made possible by a strategic alliance agreement that the Flemish government has subscribed with thirteen organizations and parties and which is focused on the future and quality of life in the areas surrounding the port Belgian and in the polders on the left bank of the Scjhelda River.

" The alliance is an extraordinary understanding of the conservation of Doel, nature and heritage and the further expansion of the capacity of the port for containers ". Government representatives have pointed out that this is an extraordinary agreement because it brings together actors with diverging interests : the port, the agricultural and environmental sectors, action groups and the government in order to work together to resolve long-standing differences. In particular, the disagreement is between the government, which intends to increase the container traffic capacity of the port of Antwerp, and some parties, institutions and organizations contrary to that development. The agreement signed between the parties on Thursday was the result of months of discussions and negotiations following the appointment of the government of Freddy Aerts last June as a mediator. The agreement has led to a "Pact for the Future" and the withdrawal of appeals at the State Council.

For the port of Antwerp the deal means the possibility of carrying out the Extra Containercapaciteit Antwerpen (ECA) project that will allow additional containerized traffic capacities of 7.2 million teu per year, of which 3.5 millions of theu of capacity resulting from the optimization of existing quays and 3.7 million teu of capacity resulting from the construction of new quays.

"Obviously, we are very pleased with the successful outcome of the negotiations," the CEO of the Port of Antwerp, Jacques Vandermeiren, said in a statement. An additional capacity for containers is indispensable in order to safeguard our world-class port role. It also represents an exceptional opportunity to stimulate the improvement of the environmental impact of the container sector and to continue to develop the sustainable port of the future. Through this agreement, in addition, we take into account the concerns of local residents in the elaboration and implementation phase of the ECA. "