New record for the port of Antwerp

The Flemish port handled its 8 millionth TEU container (Twenty feet  Equivalent Unit) this morning.

It's the first time in the port's history that the figure of 8 million has been reached in one and the same year.

This year's record figure is 1 million up on last year's. The major contributory factor to this economic success is the newly-opened Deurganck dock (photo).

Antwerp is Europe's second biggest port, after Rotterdam, and the world's number 4.

"Growth will continue"

The new record probably won't stand very long and could already be broken next year.

"The growth will continue," Marc Van Peel of the Antwerp Port Authority told reporters. "Our biggest asset is that we can easily raise our capacity as there are no sings of congestion."

This is in contract with Antwerp's main challengers, the Dutch port of Rotterdam and the German

port of Hamburg.

Another boost for the port of Antwerp is the deepening of the River Scheldt. These works should be finished in two years' time.

Source:RamblerNews