Ghent lock
Flemish minister Ben Weyts (Mobility and Public Works) and Dutch minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and Environmental Affairs) recently signed the ‘Treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders for the construction of the New Lock Terneuzen’. The new Terneuzen lock will improve the access to the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen.
The new lock will also provide a smoother passage of inland vessels between the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The construction of the new lock represents the biggest investment in port infrastructure ever for Ghent Port Company.
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.
The cutting of the first sod is expected in 2017 and the first vessels are expected to be able to use the new lock in 2021.
By Jake Frith
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