King Willem-Alexander and King Philip open New Lock in Terneuzen
(Posted on 15/10/24)
His Majesty the King Willem-Alexander and His Majesty the King of the Belgians Filip jointly opened the New Lock in Terneuzen. This official ceremony underlines the important milestone for the Netherlands, Belgium, Flanders and our port area North Sea Port.
King Willem-Alexander and King Filip performed the official opening ceremony on the Z9, an electric ship. The ceremony was accompanied by a parade of patrol, tug and pilot boats. A historic moment because the New Lock housed a seagoing vessel for the first time, the M/V Bregaglia. With the departure of the 240-metre-long and 38-metre-wide ocean-going vessel towards ArcelorMittal, the New Lock was officially inaugurated.
After the official act, the royals interacted with representatives of companies using the North Sea locks, notably ArcelorMittal Belgium, Sea-Invest, Verbrugge Terminals Terneuzen, Ovet and DFDS Seaways. After the cruise, King Willem-Alexander and King Philippe visited the lock platform of the New Lock, where they were explained about the construction and operation of the lock. In the control building, they met representatives of local residents and employees of the contractor consortium responsible for the construction of the sea lock.
The joint opening by the kings underlines the cross-border importance of the New Lock in Terneuzen. The New Lock in Terneuzen will add a second, larger sea lock to our North Sea Port port area. It will provide better access and a faster flow for shipping from the North Sea to the Western Scheldt and the Ghent Canal to Terneuzen. The arrival of the New Lock will create new economic activities and employment in both the Zeeland Flanders region and in and around the Canal Zone. It increases the capacity of the North Sea locks: more ships can pass through the three locks at the same time, reducing waiting time for seagoing and inland vessels.
The New Lock was commissioned by the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission, a partnership between the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works. Construction of the New Lock started in 2017 within the existing lock complex in Terneuzen, in the North Sea Port port area. The Middle Lock, in use since 1910, made way for the New Lock.
In 2023, 56,000 ships passed through this lock complex. This number is expected to grow to 96,000 in 2040. Apart from ships passing through the complex towards the hinterland or the North Sea, the lock complex is an important access route for road traffic. It also makes up part of the region's primary flood defence and water management system.
The opening of the New Lock in Terneuzen is not an end point but the beginning of the further economic development of the cross-border port area North Sea Port.
Latest News
Euroports secures long-term future in Venice with 25-year deal
(Posted on 31/03/25)Euroports has announced the renewal of the concession for Terminal Rinfuse Venezia (TRV) at Porto Marghera... Read more
Panama Canal promotes sustainable maritime shipping with NetZero Slot
(Posted on 27/03/25)Contributing to the commitment of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the Panama Canal authority has... Read more
Saguenay Port brings electric-driven Konecranes Gottwald MHC to Canada
(Posted on 27/03/25)The Saguenay Port Authority in Quebec has ordered a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.6B Mobile Harbor Crane for... Read more
Cas König joins North Sea Port as new CEO
(Posted on 18/03/25)North Sea Port Supervisory Body has appointed Cas König as the port authority's new CEO. Kö... Read more
Inspirational leader, Trois-Rivières Port President and CEO, Bovin to retire this year
(Posted on 12/03/25)After 19 years at the helm of the Port of Trois-Rivières and a career rich in major projects,... Read more
State-of-the-art cranes for Egyptian multipurpose cargo terminal
(Posted on 06/03/25)Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, an enabler of integrated trade, transport and logistics solutions, has... Read more
Call for swift implementation of Europe’s Clean Industrial Deal
(Posted on 01/03/25)The Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp-Bruges have welcomed the Clean Industrial Deal, through which... Read more
Canadian Government invests $87.1M in Trois-Rivières Terminals project
(Posted on 28/02/25)The Canadian Port of Trois-Rivières is delighted to have received major funding of $87.1 million... Read more
Katoen Natie invests in four all-electric Konecranes Gottwald MHCs
(Posted on 15/02/25)Belgian logistics giant Katoen Natie has ordered four all-electric Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor... Read more
AD Ports reports another year of record results
(Posted on 14/02/25)AD Ports Group, Abu Dhabi based enabler of integrated trade, transport and logistics solutions, has... Read more
