The Port of Antwerp will begin constructing the world’s largest lock near Deurganckdock on the left bank of the Scheldt River.
The Belgian port already has the biggest lock, the Berendrecht lock. The new Deurganckdock lock will be even deeper than the Berendrecht, to handle the increasingly larger containerships. It will have a width equivalent to a 19-lane highway and a depth of 17.8 meters.
The new lock represents an estimated investment of 340 million euros ($469 million) and is due to become operational in 2016. The European Investment Bank will finance half of the construction work, up to a maximum of 160.5 million euros ($221 million). The Flemish region and port authority is financing the rest.
“Our sea access has already been considerably improved thanks to the deepening of the Scheldt, and now with the second lock we will be able to further develop our port on the left bank,” said Eddy Bruyninckx, chief executive officer of Antwerp Port Authority.
Antwerp to build largest loc
