The Flemish Government has adopted the final preference decision for a new sea lock in Zeebrugge, confirming that the new sea lock will be built on the location of the old Visart lock.
The Visart lock (1907) does no longer meet the modern standards of the shipping industry, the officials said in the release.
Hence, the port operations in the inner port entirely depend on the P. Vandamme lock, which currently undergoes maintenance. A new sea lock paves the way for more growth and jobs in Zeebrugge.
They also added that the decision of the Flemish Government means that a project team will launch the designing phase in September, which will take 2 to 3 years, during which a project decision will be reached and the necessary licences will be obtained, in order to start the actual construction of the sea lock.
“ We are ready to invest 1 billion euros, a considerable investment which will pave the way for more jobs and growth in the port of Zeebrugge, but also for a better local mobility. We take the concerns of the local residents seriously. The necessary accompanying measures will be taken, ” commented the Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works, Ben Weyts .
Measuring 427 meters in length, 55 meters in width and having a draught of 18.5 meters the new sea lock will be appropriate to give the next generation of car carriers access to the largest car handling port in the world.