Antwerp promoted as north Europe's congestion-free port
Antwerpen's new Deurganck Dock is expected to double annual capacity to 14 million TEU as rival European ports reach maximum throughput limits in the face of rising Asian imports.
Antwerp is promoting itself as the answer to shippers' prayers, the congestion-free port with easy access to the chief consumption and production centres of western, central and eastern Europe.
"At a time when other ports in northwest Europe are facing capacity problems, Antwerp has the capacity of more than 10 million TEU, due to rise to 14 million TEU by the end of 2008," said a port statement.
"The Deurganck Dock on its own will deliver a 7 million TEU capacity - 3.5 TEU of which is already available," said a port statement.
"In 2006, Antwerp handled over 7 million TEU. Vessels were handled at a rate of 35 boxes per crane per hour which positions Antwerp as the port with the highest productivity in the Hamburg-Le Havre range," the statement said.
Large throughput is matched by big vessel handling capability as Antwerp already handles China Shipping's 9,600-TEU Xin Hong Kong and Cosco's 9,500 TEU Guangzhou, and with further dredging to ensure the Schelde Estuary will be ready to receive the largest containerships on the drawing boards today.
Antwerp is promoting itself as the answer to shippers' prayers, the congestion-free port with easy access to the chief consumption and production centres of western, central and eastern Europe.
"At a time when other ports in northwest Europe are facing capacity problems, Antwerp has the capacity of more than 10 million TEU, due to rise to 14 million TEU by the end of 2008," said a port statement.
"The Deurganck Dock on its own will deliver a 7 million TEU capacity - 3.5 TEU of which is already available," said a port statement.
"In 2006, Antwerp handled over 7 million TEU. Vessels were handled at a rate of 35 boxes per crane per hour which positions Antwerp as the port with the highest productivity in the Hamburg-Le Havre range," the statement said.
Large throughput is matched by big vessel handling capability as Antwerp already handles China Shipping's 9,600-TEU Xin Hong Kong and Cosco's 9,500 TEU Guangzhou, and with further dredging to ensure the Schelde Estuary will be ready to receive the largest containerships on the drawing boards today.
