Dutch bow to Scheldt dredging pressure

The news was welcomed by the Port of Antwerp, which has long bemoaned the lack of progress by the Dutch.

“The Netherlands has until now remained in default, since under the terms of the Scheldt Treaties the work should have been finished by the end of 2009,” said the port authority. “The decision by the Dutch Council of State confirms the view of the Port Authority that deepening of the navigation channel can be done without damage to the environment.”

The deepening of Scheldt channel will allow tide-independent navigation by ships with a draught of up to 13.10 metres. Once deepening work has been completed, the port authority claims that seven in every ten ships that are currently tide-dependent will be able to reach the port of Antwerp without tide constraints.

“This deepening of the navigation channel will enable Antwerp to defend its position as Europe’s second-largest port, in the face of competition from Rotterdam and Hamburg,” said the authority.