Scheldt Estuary News

Shortly after the inauguration of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, and the growth of grain exports that followed, bulk shipper Fednav realized that incoming steel products offered ideal repositioning from Belgium, and thus was launched regular service FALLine. Steel is also transported from Germany, the U.K. and other countries, but Antwerp remained the epicenter of the activity. Located in the Scheldt estuary, Antwerp is the breakbulk port of choice due to its central position, its connections to the Rhine and its experienced stevedores. Initially, and for many years served as general Colbelfret and sales agent for the company. From the beginning, the company decided a Fednav office in Antwerp was required and in June 1966 the Federal Commerce & Navigation (Belgium) SA was incorporated.

Multraship took delivery of a Damen ASD 2810 Hybrid tug vessel, built at Damen Shipyards Galaţi, in Romania. The delivery is part of Multraship’s fleet expansion program, which involves a number of Damen vessel orders. The new vessel, named Multratug 28, sailed under her own keel to the Netherlands from Galaţi. The tug features an expected bollard pull of 61 metric tons. Damen’s ASD 2810 Hybrid is a new design, and Multratug 28 is the second of its class to be built. Dinu Berariu, Project Manager at Damen Shipyards Galaţi, said, “This hybrid tug is a very unique concept.

Antwerp Port Authority had signed an agreement with Zeeland Safety Region to finance a fireboat on the Dutch part of the Western Scheldt. After flowing through Belgium the river Scheldt passes into Dutch territory where it becomes the Scheldt estuary or “Western Scheldt,” bordering the Dutch province of Zeeland. The recent agreement, which is actually a renewal of the covenant signed in 2010, provides for the further financing of a third firefighting boat in the eastern part of the Western Scheldt. Antwerp Port Authority will contribute 150,000 euros towards making the vessel available along with the operating costs. The boat financed by Antwerp Port Authority will be berthed in the Berendrecht-Zandvliet channel and will operate in the area between the Belgian-Dutch border and Hansweert.

The motorized barge 'Argonon' owned by Deen Shipping, was fuelled-up from a truck in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. This operation represents a further significant step towards more environment-friendly shipping in the port of Antwerp. Antwerp Port Authority continues to lend support to those seeking to switch to this more environment-friendly fuel, and so to make the logistics chain yet more sustainable. As part of its sustainability policy, Antwerp Port Authority seeks not only to facilitate but also to encourage the use of LNG as a fuel for ships and barges.