Flemish minister Ben Weyts (Mobility and Public Works) and Dutch minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and Environmental Affairs) signed the ‘Treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders for the construction of the New Lock Terneuzen’ on Thursday, 5 February 2015. Ghent Port Company is extremely delighted about this historical moment. As a matter of fact, the New Lock Terneuzen will improve the access to the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen. Moreover, the new lock will provide a smoother passage of inland vessels between the Netherlands, Belgium and France. It is expected that the lock will be ready in 2021. The construction of the new lock is the biggest investment in port infrastructure ever for Ghent Port Company.

</div>
<div class="long">

This new lock is important both for Flanders and for the Netherlands. It will improve the maritime access to the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen and will also reduce waiting times for inland navigation. Moreover, by increasing the total capacity of the lock complex, the corridor possibilities in the direction of France will also improve. This will be of benefit to the economies of Flanders and the Netherlands and also of the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal zone. Besides, the New Lock Terneuzen will improve the air quality as the vessels will have shorter waiting times before passing through.

Ghent, being a multimodal port, is situated at the crossroads of the European inland waters, motorways and railway lines. Consequently, the new lock is crucial for making Ghent grow, further developing itself, strengthening its international position, creating new jobs and attracting investors. Moreover, the realization of the lock will be of benefit to the cooperation between Ghent Port Company and Zeeland Seaports (the ports of Terneuzen and Flushing).

The signing of the lock treaty took place at the lock complex in Terneuzen, in the presence of among others the president of Ghent Port Company Mathias De Clercq and CEO Daan Schalck, the mayor of Terneuzen Jan Lonink and representatives of a number of companies that frequently use the lock complex.

<strong>For post-Panama vessels
</strong>The New Lock Terneuzen will be a lock that will roughly be as long and as wide as the renewed locks on the Panama Canal. The new lock will have the following dimensions: 427 metres in length, 55 metres in width and a depth of 16.44 metres and will be built inside the present lock complex at Terneuzen. It will be located where the ‘Middensluis’ is now situated, this is one of the three existing locks.

<strong>Financial reserves for biggest investment in port infrastructure ever
</strong>The construction of the lock is expected to cost 920 million euros. The cost for its maintenance during 30 years is estimated at 75 million euros. The Netherlands will pay 155 million euros. Flanders will bear the remaining expenses. Of the Dutch contribution, the Zeeland region will take care of paying 10 million euros. From the Flemish side, Ghent Port Company will take up 15%. Depending on the estimate and the European subsidies, this contribution will amount to somewhere between 71 and 95 million euros.

In order to finance this contribution, Ghent Port Company is building up the necessary reserves in the financial long-range planning. Moreover, the expected entry of the province of East Flanders into Ghent Port Company’s management will provide additional financial means. This financial contribution to the construction of the New Lock is for Ghent Port Company the biggest investment in port infrastructure ever.

The Netherlands and Flanders will jointly apply for obtaining European Ten-T subsidies from the European Commission within the framework of the development of the trans-European transport network.

<strong>Ready in 2021
</strong>With the signing of this Treaty, a crucial next step is taken in the realization of the New Lock Terneuzen. Now it is up to the parliaments of Flanders and the Netherlands to ratify the lock treaty. Subsequently, the preparation of the construction can start. The cutting of the first sod is expected in 2017. In 2021 the first ships should be passing through the New Lock Terneuzen.

Press release

Image credit: port of Ghent

</div>