The port of Antwerp lies within the Scheldt-Maas-Rhine delta area. As such it offers direct connections not only to the 1,500 km network of inland waterways in Belgium but also to the pan-European network. The port of Antwerp cannot live without its barge transport, and vice-versa: together they form an inseparable whole.

The proportion of freight carried by barge in the port of Antwerp is growing rapidly, with container freight in the lead. Nearly one third of the container volume passing through Antwerp now travels by barge, and since the opening of the Deurganck dock this proportion is shooting up.

When it comes to barge transport, most of Europe can be considered as Antwerp’s hinterland. The volume of freight carried to and from the port is growing rapidly from year to year, and the recent expansion of the EU from 1515 to 2727 member states offers additional opportunities to extend barge transport and further develop the network. Barge transport is being extended not only to other countries but also to new, more intensive freight flows. The Seine-Scheldt link, which will form part of the Trans-European Network (TEN), will bring the region of northern France closer to the port.

Barge transport was traditionally used for bulk cargo such as ore, coil and oil products. Nowadays, however, barges carry a wide range of finished products including chemicals, palletised goods and bigbags. Barge transport is suitable for carrying all types of freight, in dry or liquid form.

In the meantime various projects have been started up to make greater use of barge transport within the port itself. These include the Mobility Fund, the subsidy project for carrying barges by container to the Deurganck dock and the left bank, and the consolidation project for small volumes. To streamline these projects Antwerp Port Authority has drawn up a Master Plan for barge transport as part of an overall policy framework.

The Master Plan covers a period of 12 years, from 2007 to 2018, and was finalised in spring 2007. The aim is to increase the role played by barge transport within the port and to and from the port, as well as enabling the Port Authority to take proactive measures. It includes an action programme, and has been drawn up in consultation with all the parties involved.

Included in the Master Plan are renovation of the Van Cauwelaert and Royers locks, and widening and deepening the Albert canal. The study for renovation of the Van Cauwelaert lock has been completed and planning permission has been granted. The work will be able to go ahead as soon as the protocol has been signed and the funds have been made available, which is expected to be in early 2007.

In the meantime, the preparatory studies for modifications to the Royers lock have been started by the Maritime Access Department. After an in-depth study of the economic impact of full renovation, it was decided to carry out “semi-hard” renovation, with the width being increased to 27 m. The work is due to be carried out between 2013 and 2015.

To expand barge and pusher convoy transport on the Albert canal it will be necessary to widen and deepen the waterway and to make the bridges higher and wider. This will be done in two stages:

-        In the first stage, the first five bridges after the Straatsburg dock will be replaced by new, higher ones, and the canal will be widened underneath them. The traffic-carrying role of the bridges is being analysed in the study work, in order to ensure improved mobility within the wider context of the Master Plan, especially for the Antwerp North area. This will mean not only a smoother flow and higher density of public transport, cars and trucks, but also building safe cycle tracks. Construction of the bridges is planned for the period 2007-2009. This area is being tackled first because it also represents the biggest bottleneck for barge traffic.

-        In the second stage (2011-2014) the other bridges as far as Schoten will be tackled, namely the Deurne bridge (Azijn bridge) and the Hoogmolen bridge. A new cycle bridge will be built in Schoten, at the Kruiningen street.

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