The New Lock in Terneuzen is operational, and a commercial trial voyage recently tested a wider seagoing vessel on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, reaching ArcelorMittal in Ghent.
The ship, PIAVIA, measured 38.04 metres wide — one metre wider than the current permitted size — and 229.20 metres long. The trial marks a key step in optimising North Sea Port’s nautical accessibility.
Preparations for the trial included two years of studies by the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission (VNSC), North Sea Port, the Joint Nautical Management (GNB), and the Flemish and Dutch Pilotage Authorities. Nautical simulations considered wind, water levels, bottom profiles, and tow forces.
Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport, said: “This trial voyage demonstrates how important investments in our ports are for a strong economy. By bringing larger and wider ships to our industry more smoothly, we are making transport more efficient and cheaper.”
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Cas König, CEO of North Sea Port, added: “This provides valuable insights into the practical feasibility of wider and longer ships on the Channel and contributes to the development of our future-oriented infrastructure in the port.”
Frederik Van De Velde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Belgium, noted that the ship carried commercial cargo, allowing the company to assess how larger vessels can access the quay and improve sustainable, cost-effective steel transport.
The New Lock was designed to accommodate ships comparable to those passing through the Panama Canal.
North Sea Port aims to optimise the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal for even larger vessels, including 43-metre-wide ships, which could reduce cargo-lightening in the Westerschelde and deliver significant cost savings.
This ambition has been endorsed by both the Netherlands and Flanders. At the 1 April 2025 Flemish-Dutch Summit in Ghent, officials confirmed plans to discuss further improvements to canal accessibility to maximise the opportunities created by the New Lock.
For more information:
North Sea Port – https://www.northseaport.com/en
