Since 1999 every port area in Flanders has to draw up a Strategic Plan and a Land Use Plan that guarantee maximum protection of the surrounding residential areas, build up the “ecological infrastructure” inside and outside the port area, and make efficient use of space. This means that economic expansion of the ports can no longer be interpreted as taking up additional space at the cost of agricultural land, natural areas or existing residential areas.

At this moment the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being finalised, and the Land Use Plan will follow soon. The latter will define the boundaries of the port area, as the final objective of the strategic planning for the Port of Antwerp. This strategic planning comprises the long-term development plans for the port, the associated “nature compensation measures” and the creation of new natural areas within the port area.

Ports are the motor of the economy, but they are also the places where the environmental challenge is the greatest. The Port Authority has therefore set itself a dual objective, namely to be a pioneer of economic growth and to be a pioneer of sustainable development.

The Port Authority offers a wide range of services aimed at formulating clear guidelines for port users and providing them with central support.

For the future the Port Authority strives for integrated environmental services in a climate of legal certainty and stability. In this context it sees itself as acting as a middleman between port users and the Flemish Government.

Website 'Onshore Power Supply'

The Port of Gothenburg and the ports of Antwerp, Amsterdam and Hamburg, as well as the International Association Ports & Harbours, launched the Website 'Onshore Power Supply'. The website provides practical information on OPS and is available to all ports.

Water and underwater bottom grounds

Amoras

Project for environment-friendly dumping sites for dredging spoil on the right bank area of the port of Antwerp.

Construction of a mechanical dewatering system for dredging spoil, with accompanying storage site for the filter cake.

Scientific research project for using dredging spoil in landscaping dikes. The project focuses on the development possibilities for flora and fauna, the risk to people and the environment, and the management aspects of dikes built using brackish dredging spoil.

TBT Clean

Project subsidised by the EU, for completely removing TBT (tributyl tin) from dredging spoil. The Port Authority is developing and testing different treatment techniques for removing TBT so that the dredging spoil can be reused.

The Port Authority receives EU support for contributing its expertise in research into the development of sustainable strategies for dredging and for disposal of the dredger spoil. 

Nature conservation

New! Delta

Antwerp Port Authority is a member of North-West European Delta (New!Delta), a collaborative association of the port authorities of Rotterdam, Rouen, Antwerp and Associated British Ports, together with research institutes and regional authorities. With the support of the EU Commission it is investigating how port development can be reconciled with development of the Natura 2000 network, a European ecological network made up of conservation areas designated under the Bird & Habitat directive. The Port Authority also co-finances “ecological infrastructure” projects.

The Port More Naturally

“Haven Natuurlijker” (The port more naturally) is a collaborative project in which the Port Authority supports the Natuurpunt nature conservation society in setting up an ecological infrastructure network within the port area. Among other things, this involves drawing up an inventory of nature areas within the existing port area. The working party also includes representatives of Alfaport, local authorities, the board of Natuur and the Waterways & Seaways Authority. There is increasing interest among port authorities in developing ecological infrastructure networks.

Paralia Nature

Informal collaboration project aimed at improved implementation of the EU’s Bird & Habitat directive (in connection with port expansion plans and projects in and around nature conservation areas). Various ports (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Kotka etc.) come together to discuss subjects such as nature compensation areas, deepening of navigation channels in estuaries and developments in EU nature policy.

Deurganck dock

Nature compensation measures are being developed to make up for the loss of bird habitats that construction of the Deurganck dock inevitably caused. The Port Authority is mainly concentrating on managing the nature compensation areas, in close collaboration with the Management Committee of the Flemish Region.

Verlegd Schijns

In order to permit development of the Schijns logistics park  it will be necessary to fill in the Verlegd Schijns (the last section of the Grote Schijn, a category 1 stretch of non-navigable water).

The Port Authority is currently looking at ways to replace the existing nature resources in and around the Verlegd Schijns with resources of equal value. The Flemish Government has assumed responsibility for construction of an alternative drainage system.

Natterjack toads

Nature compensation measures to make up for the loss of habitat inevitably caused by construction and operation of the Verrebroek dock. The Port Authority is mainly concentrating on managing the nature compensation areas, in close collaboration with the Management Committee of the Flemish Region.

Particulates plan

The Antwerp port area is a hot spot for air pollution, because of the concentration of industrial and freight transport activities within a relatively small area. In order to determine the relationship between the concentration of particulates in the air and the sources of particulates, the local authorities (Antwerp, Beveren and Zwijndrecht) and the Flemish Environment Society (VMM) have agreed to have a particulates measurement network in operation by 2008. A particulates cleanup plan will be drawn up on the basis of the results.

Surface water

The surface water in the port docks is classified as “fishing water” for quality purposes. Samples are regularly taken and analysed to monitor the quality of the water. This is done both by VMM  and by Antwerp Port Authority.

Particulates measurement network

The air quality in the port area (and in the rest of Flanders) can be followed hour by hour on the VMM website: www.vmm.be. To gain a more accurate picture of the contribution to emission of particulates by companies within the port, it is planned to invest in a denser network of measuring points. Consultations on this subject are ongoing between the municipality of Beveren, Antwerp Port Authority and VMM.

Environmental zoning

In order to gain better understanding of the different environmental areas, the use made of them and the related port activities, now and in the future, and to manage the use of these areas in the most efficient way, the Port Authority tasked the Iris consulting agency in 2004 with carrying out an environmental zoning study and developing a tool for making use of this environmental information in allocating activities within the port are. This study was completed in November 2005.

Barge transport

1. Drinking water for barges

As a service to bargees, they may load up with drinking water free of charge:

-        at distribution points on quays 75, 538, 618 and 1105, and in the Marshall dock . Barges in transit can take on drinking water only at these fixed distribution points;

-        from the “De Wit I” and “De Wit II” drinking water barges: deliveries of drinking water to barges are made every working day in the barge port on the right bank between 0700 and 1800:

o        for the low quay numbers (to the South of the Boudewijn lock): De Wit I, tel. +32-4-77.21.44.03;

o        for the low high numbers (to the North of the Boudewijn lock): De Wit II: tel. +32-4-77.21.44.04).

2. Bilge water collection

The port dues for barges include a contribution towards collection of bilge water (oil-water mixture) that gathers in the machine room of barges. The collection is made by barge.

Requests for collection:

 right bank: tel. +32-3-229.73.33

What may be collected:

-        up to 3,000 l of bilge water per 7 calendar days. Larger amounts may be collected on payment of a fee (in 2005: 29.49 euro/m³, minimum invoicing amount of 25 euros);

-        waste oil and solid waste containing oil and grease (rags, filters etc.);

-        other industrial waste (air filters, cables, small parts etc.);

-        dangerous waste;

-        domestic refuse.

What may not be collected:

-        cargo-related waste (cargo remnants, dunnage, steel bands and packaging);

-        cleaning sludge and slops (liquid cargo remnants);

-        domestic waste water;

-        restaurant waste and domestic refuse from restaurant and passenger vessels;

-        waste from maintenance and repair work to the barge, including demolition timber, large parts etc. Such waste must be removed as industrial waste by the contractor carrying out the work;

-        the following waste materials, which must be taken back by the manufacturer:

o        white and brown goods (electronic equipment and domestic appliances),

o        car tyres,

o        batteries, including lead-acid batteries,

o        car wrecks.

Collection points:

Kanaal dock B3, B2, B1; Delwaide dock; Churchill dock; 6th Haven dock; Leopold dock; Hansa dock; Marshall dock; 4th Haven dock; 5th Haven dock; Amerika dock; Graan dock; Industrie dock; Wacht dock for barges; 3rd Haven dock; 2nd Haven dock; Willem dock, Bonaparte dock, Kattendijk dock, Hout dock, Asia dock and Kempisch dock.

There are no collections by the Port Authority in the Straatsburg dock, since this dock belongs to the Albert canal.

Collection conditions:

Collections are free of charge for barges that pay port dues in the port of Antwerp. Bilge water and oil must have the composition stated on the collection form. Other barge waste and domestic refuse is only collected for each barge along with collection of bilge water. The waste must be presented in the proper way:

-          liquid waste, grease etc. in an appropriate closed container;

-          dangerous waste must not be mixed, and must preferably be presented in the original packaging.

3. Container park for barge waste

Another service for barges is the possibility to hand in domestic refuse and dangerous waste. Again, no extra charge is made in addition to the port dues.

What may be handed in:

-          domestic refuse;

-          dangerous waste.

What may not be handed in:

-        restaurant waste and domestic refuse from restaurant and passenger vessels;

-        waste from maintenance and repair work to the barge, including demolition timber, large parts etc. Such waste must be removed as industrial waste by the contractor carrying out the work;

-        the following waste materials, which must be taken back by the manufacturer:

o        white and brown goods (electronic equipment and domestic appliances),

o        car tyres,

o        batteries, including lead-acid batteries,

o        car wrecks.

Handing-in points:

-        quay 75 (barge holding dock);

-        quay 538 (pusher convoy sheltering dock);

-        Petroleum bridge;

-        quay 1105 (Waasland canal);

-        beside any of the drinking water distribution points.

Handing-in conditions:

-          for barges only;

-          waste materials must be properly presented and placed in the correct container;

-          liquid waste, grease etc. in an appropriate closed container;

4. Accidental and non-accidental discharges into the surface water

Oil spills must be cleaned up as quickly as possible. The Brabo and MAC companies are specially equipped for this. When the identity of the person responsible for the spill is not known, the Civil Defence intervenes. The Harbour Masters Office of the Port of Antwerp is responsible for this: havenkapiteins@haven.antwerpen.be 

5. Further information

Antwerp Port Authority – Environmental Department

Siberiastraat 20 – haven 63

2030 Antwerp

fax +32-3-205.24.37

milieu@haven.antwerpen.be

Seagoing ships

1. Port waste materials plan (see MARPOL)

According to the provisions of EU directive 2000/59/EC on collection facilities for ships’ waste, Member States must set up a sufficiently dense network of port facilities for collection of waste from seagoing ships. All seagoing ships calling at an EU port must report their waste beforehand, hand it in and contribute towards the costs of collecting and processing ships’ waste.

Harbourmaster’s Office - department of Dangerous Goods:

click here for the website dangerous goods

2. Environmental regulations on carrying out maintenance work

Maintenance work on vessels such as sand-blasting and painting always results in dust and particles getting into the air and water. It goes without saying that such polluting activities are covered by regulations.

a) environmental provisions of the Port Police Regulations :

i. art. 23 on discharge of materials into the water ;

ii. art. 63 on sand-blasting and other maintenance activities ;

b) application form for permission for painting and sand-blasting

Port Authority departments

1. Surface water catchment

In order for water from navigable waterways, canals and ports to be used for certain production processes (e.g. cooling), a “Water catchment application” using the required form must be submitted beforehand to:

Antwerp Port Authority – Environmental Department

Siberiastraat 20 – haven 63

2030 Antwerp

fax +32-3-205.24.37

milieu@haven.antwerpen.be

2. Permits

Planning permissions

Environmental permits

Application for environmental permits must be submitted to the City Council or the Provincial Council, depending on the class of activity (see list of restricted activities in Annex 1 of Vlarem 1: www.emis.vito.be)

More information on environmental permits can be found on the City Council website www.antwerpen.be or the Provincial Council website www.provant.be.

2. Litter

Litter may be reported to:

Antwerp Port Authority – Environmental Department

Siberiastraat 20 – haven 63

2030 Antwerp

fax +32-3-205.24.37

milieu@haven.antwerpen.be

3. Soil management

Antwerp Port Authority attaches a great deal of importance to protecting the soil against pollution, and to cleaning up polluted sites. At the start of a new concession the “zero situation” for sites at risk is determined, and a soil certificate is issued to the concession holder.

For more information on soil certificates, surveys and clean-ups:

Antwerp Port Authority – Environmental Department

Siberiastraat 20 – haven 63

2030 Antwerp

fax +32-3-205.24.37

milieu@haven.antwerpen.be