The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge have merged to create Port of Antwerp-Bruges
In February 2021, the City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges announced the launch of the merger process for their respective ports. Following the signing of the shareholders’ agreement of the unified port company on 22 April 2022, the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge will operate under one name going forward: Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
The combined port has strong container growth plans: it aims to meet the growing need for container capacity due to global growth and recent developments in the international logistics chain. In parallel with the implementation of the Extra Container Capacity Antwerp project, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is working on a ’Container Plan 22-30’ to safeguard its competitive position. Elsewhere, Port of Antwerp-Bruges continues to invest in strategic infrastructure including the Europa Terminal in Antwerp, as well as the New Lock and the Maritime Logistics Zone in Zeebrugge.
A statement said by “focusing on bolstering interconnectivity between the Antwerp and Bruges sites and achieving economies of scale in the area of digitalisation, the unified port will contribute to the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of the logistics chain”.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges intends to anchor its position as a green energy hub. The unified port will continue and extend its pioneering project for the capture, storage and reuse of CO2. Via Antwerp@C, the first 2.5M tonnes of CO2 will be captured from industry in the port by 2025. This CO2 will be stored and eventually reused as a raw material for a wide range of applications.
In addition, the combination of Antwerp’s position as the second-largest chemical cluster in the world and the coastal position of Zeebrugge provides a unique opportunity to take a leading role in the roll-out of the hydrogen economy. By 2028, Port of Antwerp-Bruges plans to have the capacity to receive the first green hydrogen molecules on its platform. To this end, it is working to expand terminal capacity for existing and new hydrogen carriers at both port sites. A hydrogen pipeline between the two sites and towards the European hinterland will ensure the port area and, by extension, Belgium and a large part of Europe, can use this carrier for renewable energy.
City of Antwerp vice mayor and president of the board of directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges Annick De Ridder said, "The unified port is not only the economic engine of Flanders, but together, the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge will also form the largest export port, largest throughput port for vehicles in Europe, and the leading chemical hub in Europe. At the same time, Port of Antwerp-Bruges has major ambitions to become the energy gateway to Europe as a ’green port’. In short, Flemish economic history is being written here today".
Maritime Air Pollution & Fuel Technologies Conference, Europe will be held 18-19 May 2022. Details and tickets can be found here
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.